[Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in elderly inpatients of medical and surgical departments].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present survey was to study the psychiatric prevalence among elderly patients of medical and surgical wards in Austria.


METHODS
244 inpatients, 60 years and above, were investigated by research psychiatrists using the Clinical Interview Schedule.


RESULTS
The prevalence was found to be 38.7% in medical departments, and 33.0% in surgical departments. According to DSM-III-R criteria, dementia (20.9%) and minor depression (7.0%) were the most frequent psychiatric categories, followed by substance abuse disorders (4.5%). Among those suffering from psychiatric disorders, 68.5% received psychotropics. Only a quarter of these drugs were prescribed by consulting psychiatrists, while about three quarters were ordered by ward physicians.


CONCLUSIONS
These facts underline the importance of an intensive cooperation between specialists for somatic medicine and psychiatrists.
Wancata
J
J
Klinische Abteilung für Sozialpsychiatrie und Evaluationsforschung, Osterreich.
Meise
U
U
Sachs
G
G
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001317:Austria; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006780:Hospitals, Rural / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs