title: Comparison of older patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore differences in measures of symptoms and cognition, side effects, and functional impairment between older patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Representative samples (N = 132) of older patients (age >54 years) with either bipolar disorder or schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder were compared on several clinical and psychosocial variables. The measures used included the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, The Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale, the Clinical Global Impression, and the Mini-Mental Status Examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite being similar in age (mean age: 68 years), patients with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder had significantly greater negative symptoms (Cohen's d = 1.2), a higher clinical global impression of impairment (Cohen's d = 1.16), were less likely to drive (Cohen's d = 0.79), were less likely to be married (Cohen's d = 0.55), and less likely to live independently (Cohen's d = 0.45).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the absolute ratings suggested both diagnostic samples had significant disability, those with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder had a greater degree of impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Olean General Hospital, Olean, NY, USA. sgupta1@adelphia.net
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Steinmeyer
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lockwood
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lentz
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schultz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires