Late-life mood disorders.
Mental disorders are not uncommon in late life. Although most psychiatric disorders occur less frequently in older populations compared with populations of younger adults, more than 10% of older adults have one or more psychiatric disorders. In addition, many older adults present with symptoms that do not meet the criteria for a specific disorder but nevertheless are clinically significant and affect quality of life. In this article the authors summarize the epidemiologic data for five psychiatric disorders and their subclinical forms: depression, anxiety, dementia, schizophrenia, and alcoholism. Also included is a discussion of risk factors and outcomes of these disorders.
Burke
William J
WJ
Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985580 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5580, USA. wjburke@unmc.edu
Wengel
Steven P
SP
D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors