Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T03:03:35.256Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Problems in the Diagnosis and Classification of Mental Disorder in Old Age; with a Study of Case Material

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2018

Martin Roth
Affiliation:
From the Department of Clinical Research, Graylingwell Hospital, Chichester
J. D. Morrissey
Affiliation:
From the Department of Clinical Research, Graylingwell Hospital, Chichester

Extract

Recent statistics of old age mental disorder have drawn an alarming picture of rising rates of admission to mental hospitals in many parts of the world. One of the predictions made on the basis of such statistics has been that old age psychoses might, in due course, relegate schizophrenia to second place in number of admissions. There are, however, dangers in drawing conclusions about a complicated problem, such as mental disorder in old age, on statistical grounds alone. Before the figures can be properly evaluated more detailed information about the social, economic and, above all, clinical aspects of the problem will be required than is available at present.

Type
Part I.—Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1952 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Clow, H. E., N.Y. St. J. Med., 1948, 48, 2357.Google Scholar
Cook, L. C., and Dax, E. C., “ Report on Behalf of Geriatric Sub-Committee of the Royal Medico-Psychological Association,” 1951, Read at Quarterly Meeting of R.M.P.A., May, 1951.Google Scholar
Criminal Statistics, 1939–45, 1946, 1947–8. London : H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Delay, J., Neveu, P., and Desclaux, P., Rev. Neurol., 1944a, 76, 37.Google Scholar
Iidem , ibid., 1944b, 76, 264.Google Scholar
Idem , L'Electro-Choc et la Psycho-Physiologie, 1946, Paris, Masson, 169.Google Scholar
Dewhurst, J. F., et al., America's Needs and Resources, 1947. 20th Century Fund, New York.Google Scholar
Einarson, L., Neel, A. V., and Strömgren, E., On the Problem of Diffuse Brain Sclerosis with Special Reference to the Familial Forms, 1946. Copenhagen : Munksgaard.Google Scholar
Evans, V. L., Amer. J. Psychiat., 1943, 99, 531.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Faris, R. E. L., and Dunham, H. W., Mental Disorders in Urban Areas, 1939. Chicago : University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Gamper, E., Zentralbl. Neurol. Psych., 1927, 47, 830.Google Scholar
Gellerstedt, N., Upsala läkaref förh., 1933 38, 193.Google Scholar
Gellhorn, E., Autonomic Regulations, 1943. New York : Interscience Publications.Google Scholar
Idem , “The Physiological Basis of Shock Therapy,” Proc. R. Soc. Med., 1949, 42, Sup. 55–70.Google Scholar
Gruhle, H., Zeitsch. Altersforschung, 1941, 3, 21.Google Scholar
Heinrich, A., ibid., 1939, 1, 345.Google Scholar
Hill, J. D. N., Proc. Roy. Soc. Med., 1948, 41, 242.Google Scholar
Hirsch, S., Brux. med., 1945, 25, 409.Google Scholar
Howell, T. H., Brit. Med. J., 1949, i, 56.Google Scholar
Mallinson, R., Der Nervenarzt, 1947a, 18, 247.Google Scholar
Mayer-Gross, W., J. Ment. Sci., 1945, 91, 101.Google Scholar
Meyer, A., J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat., 1944, 7, 66.Google Scholar
Moersch, F. P., Craig, W. H., and Kerudon, J. W., Arch. Neurol. Psychiat., 1941, 45, 235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Newton, R. D., J. Ment. Sci., 1948, 94, 225.Google Scholar
Ostergaard, T., Acta Psychiatrica et Neurologica, 1945, 20, 285.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Penrose, L. S., Am. J. Ment. Deficiency, 1942, 46, 453.Google Scholar
Post, F., Brit. Med. J., 1951, i, 436.Google Scholar
Riese, W., J. Neuropath. Exper. Neurol., 1946 5, 160.Google Scholar
Robinson, G. W., in Mental Disorders in Later Life. Ed. Kaplan, O. J., 1945, p. 281.Google Scholar
Roth, M., “Problems of Old Age, etc.,” in Recent Progr. in Psychiat. Ed. Fleming, G. W. T. H., 1950. London : J. & A. Churchill, Ltd.Google Scholar
Idem , E.E.G. Clin Neurophysiol, 1951, 3, 261.Google Scholar
Rothschild, D., Amer. J. Psychiat., 1937, 93, 757.Google Scholar
Idem , Arch. Neurol. Psychiat., 1942, 48, 417.Google Scholar
Idem , in Mental Disorders in Later Life. Ed. Kaplan, O. J., 1945, p. 233.Google Scholar
Sachs, E., J. Ment. Sci., 1950, 96, 998.Google Scholar
Schwarz, F., Probleme des Selbstmordes. 1946, Bern.Google Scholar
United States Bureau of the Census. “ Mortality Summary for U.S. Registration States : Suicide,” Vital Statistics—Special Reports, 1942, 16, 157–60.Google Scholar
United States Bureau of the Census. “Patients in Hospitals for Mental Disease, 1940.” Washington, D.C. Government Printing Office, 1943.Google Scholar
Wexberg, L. E., in Mental Disorders in Later Life. Ed. Kaplan, O. J., 1945, p. 135.Google Scholar
Wilbur, C. B., and Fortes, A., Amer. J. Psychiat. 1947 104, 48.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.