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Persecutory Symptoms and Perceptual Disturbance in a Community Sample of Older People: the Islington Study

Livingston, Gill, Kitchen, Ginnette, Manela, Monica, Katona, Cornelius, Copeland, John R. M. (2001) Persecutory Symptoms and Perceptual Disturbance in a Community Sample of Older People: the Islington Study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16 (5). pp. 462-468. ISSN 0885-6230. (doi:10.1002/gps.362) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:12185)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/gps.362

Abstract

Background While there are extensive studies of paranoid symptoms and perceptual disturbance (PPD) in younger adults, relatively little is known about older adults with similar symptoms. Method This study took place in Islington, an inner London borough. Enumeration Districts were I:randomised to prc,vide a sampling frame. Residents aged 65 or over were interviewed at home. The Short-CARE was used to elicit psychiatric symptoms and diagnosis. Sociodemographic particulars were elicited using the Client Sociodemographic and Service Receipt Inventory. Questions were asked regarding sight and hearing. We used subsections of the geriatric mental scale to identify people who had PPD symptoms. Medications taken were recorded. We asked 'Do you have any health problems'." as a screening question for subjective health problems. Results We interviewed 720 people. Twenty-eight (3.9%) participants scored positively on the PPD sub-scales of the GMS. A forward logistic regression analysis for independent predictors of PPD found the significant independent predictors were dementia (p = 0.0000: odds ratio 6.8), drinking alcohol in last 6 months (p < 0.03: odds ratio 0.3). drinking alcohol to help sleep (p < 0.005; odds ratio 9.6), subjective memory loss (p < 0.007: odds ratio 3.3) and uncorrected visual impairment (p < 0.02; odds ratio 2.8). Conclusion There is a relatively high prevalence of PPD in older people living in the community. This is not associated with higher use of services despite the increased needs. Further studies should consider interventions to meet this unmet need. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1002/gps.362
Uncontrolled keywords: community delusions hallucinations older paranoid psychosis
Subjects: R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: M.P. Stone
Date Deposited: 20 Nov 2008 20:30 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:50 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/12185 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Katona, Cornelius.

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