Prevalence of Mental Disorders in a Home for Senior Citizens: A Pilot Study in Taiwan

Abstract

Objective: Epidemiologic studies have shown a high prevalence of mental disorders among institutionalized elders in Western countries. Mental problems among elderly people living in homes for senior citizens in Taiwan have only been scarcely reported about. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of mental disorders among the elderly people living in a home for senior citizens in southern Taiwan using a standardized diagnostic instrument. Methods: Two hundred residents aged 65 years and over living in a government-run home for senior citizen in southern Taiwan were randomly chosen for the study. We used the Chinese version of the Geriatric Mental State Schedule associated with the Automated Geriatric Examination for Computer Assisted Taxonomy (CGMS-AGECAT) for case identification. Results: The one-month prevalence of any mental disorder was 37.6%, and prevalences for organic mental disorder, schizophrenia, depressive psychosis, depressive neurosis, hypochondriasis and anxiety disorder were 19.7%, 1.2%, 2.3%, 12.7%, 1.2% and 0.6%, respectively. Logistic regression did not show significant risk factors, in sociodemographic variables, for the existence of mental disorders among our participants. Conclusions: This pilot study revealed a high prevalence of mental disorders in a home for senior citizens in Taiwan. Although such rates were relatively low compared to those reported from Western countries, our health authorities and policy makers should be aware of the potential hazard of mental disorders among the residents living in homes for elderly citizens. Further independent study with represented sample is necessary to replicate these results of the prevalence of mental disorders among residents of home for elderly citizens in Taiwan.