Epidemiology and mental illness in old age
Philippa Lilford, Julian C. Hughes
Abstract
SUMMARY This is an overview of epidemiology relevant to mental health problems in old age. We start by reviewing some basic terminology: the definitions of prevalence and incidence; the difference between descriptive and analytical epidemiology; the differences between study designs, including cross-sectional, case–control and cohort studies. We then cover the main epidemiological features of the major psychiatric diseases that affect older people (dementia and its different types, depression, late-onset schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, delirium, anxiety-related disorders, eating disorders, alcohol and substance misuse, personality disorders) and suicide. We end with some descriptive statistics regarding quality of life in older people.