PSYCHOGERIATRIC ASCERTAINMENT AND ASSESSMENT FOR TREATMENT IN AN ACUTE MEDICAL WARD SETTING

Abstract

One hundred elderly patients admitted to an acute medical unit in a general hospital were screened for psychiatric morbidity. Of the sample 7 per cent were demented, 16 per cent suffered from acute delirious states and 19 per cent showed evidence of a functional psychosyndrome of at least moderate severity. The findings suggest that organic psychosyndromes present for early assessment in this setting and that at least some of the patients with functional psychosyndromes were seen before the deleterious interaction of emotional disorder and physical ill health had become fully manifest. Some indicators permitting recognition of organic and functional psychosyndromes in the acute medical setting are given and preventative implications discussed.