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The Natural History of Neurotic Disorder in an Elderly Urban Population

Findings from the Liverpool Longitudinal Study of Continuing Health in the Community

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Bernadette A. Larkin ,
John R. M. Copeland ,
Michael E. Dewey ,
Ian A. Davidson ,
Paul A. Saunders ,
Vimal K. Sharma ,
Christopher McWilliam  and
Caroline Sullivan
Bernadette A. Larkin*
Affiliation:
Withington Hospital, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 8LR, University Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool Hospital, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX
John R. M. Copeland
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Liverpool
Michael E. Dewey
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Liverpool
Ian A. Davidson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool
Paul A. Saunders
Affiliation:
University Department of Psychiatry, Liverpool
Vimal K. Sharma
Affiliation:
Walton Hospital, Liverpool
Christopher McWilliam
Affiliation:
Leighton Hospital, Crewe
Caroline Sullivan
Affiliation:
Mapperley Hospital, Nottingham
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

A random community sample of 1070 subjects aged 65 years and over was interviewed at home using the GMS-agecat package and followed up three years later. Neurotic symptoms were common, but symptoms sufficient to reach ‘case’ level were much less frequent. The overall prevalence of neurotic ‘cases' was 2.4% in year 0 and 1.4% in year 3. The incidence was estimated as a minimum of 4.4 per 1000 per year over the age of 65. Women were more likely to be ‘cases' than men but not ‘subcases', and there was a general decline in prevalence with increasing age, particularly for ‘subcases'. Anxiety was the commonest neurotic subtype. After three years, ‘cases' were shown not to persist, but this did not reflect wellness. There was a tendency still to have some symptoms, but the predominant symptom appeared to change, suggesting a possible chronic neurotic disorder with changing presentation over time. Depressive symptoms were closely associated with this presentation, suggesting that depression may be an important and integral part of a general, changing neurotic disorder.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 160 , Issue 5 , May 1992 , pp. 681 - 686
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1992 

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