Psychiatric morbidity as predictor of mortality for residents of local authority homes for the elderly

Abstract

Abstract The residents of 12 local authority homes for the elderly run by one London borough were screened for depression and dementia in 1982 and again in 1985/6. Both samples were followed up 8–16 months after screening. In both groups, 23% were dead at follow–up and a small percentage (2% in the first sample, 5% in the second) had moved to hospitals. The mortality was approximately twice that expected for the general population of the same ages and was associated with male sex, young age, high organic brain syndrome score, high depression score, and the expression of a wish to die when screened. The majority of deaths were certified as due to chest infection or cardiovascular disease. The term “dementia” appered on only 18 of 99 death certificates, although 58 of these 99 residents had been classed as demented when screened. This study provides further evidence of the malign prognosis of depressive and cognitive disorder among residents of these homes.