Citation

Kardels B, Beine KH. Notfall Medizin 2002; 28(6): 316-319.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Psychiatric disorders beyond the age of 60 are common. Persons older than 65 have a roughly 25% incidence of psychiatric problems. The demential syndromes are the largest group, accounting for about one-third, followed by affective, in particular depressive, disorders. With increasing age, the risk of suicide rises markedly. About a half of all suicides in Germany (12 888 persons in 1995) are committed by over-60-year-olds. In many cases, psychiatric symptoms in advanced age are not properly evaluated, often being misinterpreted as physical debility or somatic disease.

Language: de

Keywords

affective neurosis; aged; dementia; depression; geriatric patient; gerontopsychiatry; human; mental disease; mental patient; short survey; suicide