Psychiatric morbidities among old people of a city of Eastern Nepal
Abstract
Introduction: The data regarding prevalence of overall and common psychiatric disorders among community elderly people are scarce in Nepalese context.
Objective: To measure the prevalence of mental problems among old people in a community setting.
Methodology: All people of age ≥ 60 years from ‘Urlabari’, a city in eastern Nepal, being members of a local old-age committee were called to participate in this study. A total of 140 old people attended a health-camp and with informed written consent and authority approval, the response to the GHQ-12 and demographic information were collected. The GHQ-12 score ≥2 was adopted for ‘psychiatric caseness’ analysis. However, people with scores ≥4 were assessed by a psychiatrist for further evaluation and management. Diagnoses were made according the ICD-10.
Results: Majority (87%) were in age groups of (61-70) and (71-80) years. Many (44%) had stressors, common being: dispute with family, illness and death of close person. Many old people had health complaints; mainly physical/ somatic, mood and anxiety symptoms. About 2/5th subjects 55 (39.29%) had GHQ-12 score ≥2 and 26.43% had ≥3; i.e. ‘psychiatric caseness’. Among the subjects with score ≥4 (23) assessed for psychiatric diagnosis, 21 (91.30%) had some ICD-10 diagnosis. Depression, adjustment and anxiety disorders were common diagnoses, and 2% had suicidality.
Conclusion: A remarkable proportion of old people had current ‘psychiatric caseness’. Common mental disorders were depression, adjustment and anxiety disorders among elder people.
Author Biographies
Dhana Ratna Shakya, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), Dharan, Nepal
Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Robin Maskey, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), Dharan, Nepal
Additional Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
How to Cite
Shakya, D. R., & Maskey, R. (2022). Psychiatric morbidities among old people of a city of Eastern Nepal. Journal of Psychiatrists’ Association of Nepal, 11(2), 12-16. https://doi.org/10.3126/jpan.v11i2.57630
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