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Mental Health and Psychological Well-being Among the Old and the Very Old Living at Home

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

K. Morgan ,
H. M. Dallosso ,
T. Arie ,
E. J. Byrne ,
R. Jones  and
J. Waite
K. Morgan*
Affiliation:
The Activity and Ageing Research Group
H. M. Dallosso
Affiliation:
The Activity and Ageing Research Group
T. Arie
Affiliation:
The Activity and Ageing Research Group
E. J. Byrne
Affiliation:
The Activity and Ageing Research Group
R. Jones
Affiliation:
The Activity and Ageing Research Group
J. Waite
Affiliation:
The Activity and Ageing Research Group
*
The Activity and Ageing Research Group, Departments of Health Care of the Elderly and of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham SG7 2UH
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Abstract

Using four brief assessment scales, profiles of mental health and psychological well-being were obtained from 507 old (aged 65–74 years) and 535 very old (aged 75 +) individuals randomly sampled from the community. Assessments of dementia and depression were subsequently validated against diagnostic ratings made by experienced psycho-geriatricians. Levels of agreement between psychometric and clinical ratings of dementia x = 0.83) and depression (x = 0.66) were satisfactory. The old and very old groups reported similar levels of anxiety and personal disturbance, and showed a similar prevalence of depression. However, those aged 75+ showed higher levels of dementia and significantly lower levels of social involvement and morale.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 150 , Issue 6 , June 1987 , pp. 801 - 807
Copyright
Copyright © 1987 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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