A descriptive study of first presentation psychosis in old age.
OBJECTIVE
This report describes the characteristics of a sample of elderly subjects presenting with their first episode of psychosis in old age.


METHODS
Forty-six (38 females and eight males) patients were assessed on a variety of cognitive, psychopathological and personality measures.


RESULTS
Female preponderance, social isolation and early cognitive deficits were findings of this study which have been replicated by other studies of late-onset psychosis. In contrast, hearing loss was not overly represented in this sample. Personality style differed significantly from accepted norms of adult personality traits, with lower scores for dimensional ratings of neuroticism, extraversion and openness to change.


CONCLUSIONS
The descriptive findings in this study suggest that psychosocial factors require further investigation in patients presenting with late-onset psychosis. Comparison with younger first-onset psychotic subjects will be the subject of a later report.
Hassett
A
A
University of Melbourne, NWHCN Aged Persons Mental Health Program, St Albans, Victoria, Australia. anne.hassett@nwhcn.org.au
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology