title: Clinical characteristics of patients with non-affective, non-organic, late onset psychosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders are predominantly studied in young population. However some individuals do develop psychotic disorder for the first time during their old age. The aim of this study is to look at the clinical characteristics of non-affective, non-organic, late onset psychosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review study, medical records of all patients registered between 1st of January 2006 and 31st May 2011 at geriatric clinic in NIMHANS, Bangalore was screened, 83 files with a diagnosis of late onset psychosis and meeting the study criteria were systematically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age at onset of illness was 67±10years; 98.8% were married, females formed 67.5% of the sample, commonest phenomenon was delusions followed by hallucinations, 80.5% of the subjects had delusion of persecution, 38.5% had referential delusion, 51.8% had accusative and derogatory auditory hallucinations, negative symptoms was seen only in 2.4% of subjects, none had formal thought disorder. 3.6% had co-morbid Axis II diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite its rarity non affective, non organic, late onset psychosis forms a distinct group with unique manifestation. Further systematic research is needed for better understanding of this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore, 641004, Tamilnadu, India. Electronic address: docsureshkumar2012@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sureshkumar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramasamy
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health AND Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Srikala
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bharath
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Elderly psychosis; Geriatric psychosis; Late onset; Psychosis; Schizophrenia