Globally, increasing life expectancy has escalated demands on psychiatric services caring for a later life population. It is recognised that those with enduring mental illness may have specific needs with advancing age. In this study, we describe the characteristics of a population aged over 60 years attending a general adult community psychiatric service and compare demographic and clinical features across age and diagnostic categories. The study aims to gather preliminary information which may guide future local mental health service planning.

We conducted a cross-sectional observational study using retrospective chart review of all patients aged over 60 years attending four community mental health teams in North Dublin. Cohorts of attenders were stratified by age comparing 60–64 year age group with the population aged 65 years and over. Attenders were also stratified by diagnosis and regression analysis was used to determine predictors of psychotic disorder diagnosis.

The study included 127 patients. There was a higher prevalence of psychotic disorders among those aged 65 years and over (n = 73), while those aged 60–64 years (n = 54) were more likely to have depression and non-affective, non-psychotic disorders. Among the population aged 65 years and over 78% (n = 57) were long-term psychiatric service attenders.

The majority of the sample aged 65 years and over were long-term service attenders with a diagnosis of severe mental illness. Further research is warranted to determine optimal service delivery for later life psychiatric service attenders.

Training in cognitive behavioural psychotherapy (CBT) is expensive both for the students and their funding bodies.

It is important to know how graduates of CBT courses are putting their skills to use, and whether they are continuously updating those skills to achieve best practice. We also wanted to discover the similarities and differences between CBT trainees in the United Kingdom and in the Republic of Ireland (courses in the United Kingdom being analogous to those in Ireland in content and participants).

An internet survey, derived from previous postal questionnaires, was used to enquire into the practice, experience, and continuing professional development of graduates from the CBT courses at Trinity College Dublin.

Most MDT professions were represented in the graduates, preponderantly psychiatrists and mental health nurses, but also including social workers and occupational therapists. Most participants believed that the course had enhanced their careers, and almost half had changed job since graduating. Half said that CBT was now the main focus of their job, but others reported lack of resources, funding, time, and other duties impeded their ability to conduct CBT with clients. However, most participants engaged in continuous professional development regarding CBT, and received CBT clinical supervision.

There was a difference in the proportion of the different professions undertaking this course compared with the United Kingdom and our response rate here was significantly lower. As in UK surveys, participants who may have been supported and funded to undertake the training may not afterwards be supported in implementing their skills in the workplace. The broader implications of this are discussed.