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The Guy's/Age Concern Survey

Prevalence Rates of Cognitive Impairment, Depression and Anxiety in an Urban Elderly Community

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

James Lindesay ,
Kate Briggs  and
Elaine Murphy
James Lindesay*
Affiliation:
National Unit for Psychiatric Research and Development, London
Kate Briggs
Affiliation:
National Unit for Psychiatric Research and Development, London
Elaine Murphy
Affiliation:
United Medical and Dental Schools (Guy's Campus), London
*
∗NUPRD, Lewisham Hospital, Lewisham High Street, London SE13 6LH
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Abstract

A sample of 890 people aged 65 years and over living at home in the Lewisham and North Southwark Health District was interviewed using a structured schedule containing CARE organic brain syndrome and depression scales, and items dealing with anxiety symptoms. Total prevalence rates were 4.6% for cognitive impairment, 13.5% for depression, 3.7% for generalised anxiety, and 10.0% for phobic disorders. Cognitive impairment increased exponentially with age, and was associated with lower occupational class. There was no significant association between occupational class and depression, generalised anxiety, or phobic disorder in this sample. Cognitive impairment, depression and agoraphobia were associated with significantly higher levels of dependency in the tasks of daily living.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 155 , Issue 3 , September 1989 , pp. 317 - 329
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1989 

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