Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, Vol 51, Issue 6 M319-M324, Copyright © 1996 by The Gerontological Society of America
The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in elderly residents of public housing
PV Rabins, B Black, P German, R Roca, M McGuire, L Brant and J Cook
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA.
BACKGROUND: This study estimates lifetime and one-month prevalence of
psychiatric disorders among elderly public housing residents. METHOD: Nine
hundred forty-five residents of six public housing developments for the
elderly were administered the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), the
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the CAGE by lay interviewers.
Residents screening positive and a 10% random sample of screen negatives
were administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID)
and a DSM-III-R derived algorithm for dementia and delirium. Prevalence
rates were estimated based on weighted data from 298 subjects. RESULTS:
Thirty-six percent of participants screened positive on at least one
instrument. Based on the case identification interview, estimated lifetime
prevalence of psychiatric disorders was 57.6%, and one-month prevalence was
27.9%. Cognitive disorder (10.5%), mood disorder (8.0%), psychotic disorder
(4.6%), and substance abuse/dependence (4.4%) were the most common current
disorders. Mood disorders (26.6%) and substance abuse/dependence (23.0%)
were the most prevalent lifetime disorders. Compared to data from the
Epidemiologic Catchment Area, public housing residents have higher current
rates of mood disorder, schizophrenia, and substance use disorder.
CONCLUSIONS: Elderly residents of public housing suffer higher rates of
psychiatric morbidity than older people living independently in the
community. The high prevalence of psychiatric disorders in this growing
population of low-income elderly presents a challenge to the delivery of
mental health service.
