Psychiatric epidemiology of the elderly population in Chile.
OBJECTIVE
Little attention has been given to the prevalence rate of mental illness among elderly adults in Latin America. The prevalence rates for psychiatric disorders in Chile among those 65 and older compared with younger individuals, and the prevalence rate of psychiatric disorders among those age 75 and older are presented.


METHODS
A stratified random sample of 2,659 individuals.


METHODS
Four provinces representative of the Chile's population were surveyed.


METHODS
Adults age 15 and older were interviewed; however, the analysis is limited to those over age 20.


METHODS
The Composite International Diagnostic Interview was administered to obtain Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition-R diagnoses. Lifetime and 12-month prevalence rates were estimated.


RESULTS
Of the 2,659 interviewed 352 were over age 64. Overall, elderly adults had lower prevalence rates of lifetime disorders than the younger population, 20% in comparison with 34%. Dysthymia, agoraphobia, simple phobia, and alcohol dependence disorders were noted to be less common among elderly subjects. Those over the age of 64 in comparison with those over the age of 74 had higher prevalence rates of disorders. A sizable proportion of the disorders among older adults began after the age of 59. One third of elderly respondents with major depression had a late onset disorder. Service utilization was similar between elderly individuals and younger respondents, except for use of specialized psychiatric services, which was lower among elderly adults.


CONCLUSIONS
Both lifetime and 1-year prevalence of mental disorders were less common in older than in younger persons; however, among elderly adults late onset disorders were not uncommon. Additional studies of the prevalence rates of disorders among older individuals in Latin America are needed for public health planning.
Kohn
Robert
R
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Alpert School of Medicine, Providence, RI, USA. Robert_Kohn@brown.edu
Vicente
Benjamin
B
Saldivia
Sandra
S
Rioseco
Pedro
P
Torres
Silverio
S
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires