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The high prevalence of depression and dementia in elder abuse or neglect
C B Dyer1, V N Pavlik, K P Murphy
1Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Background:
The risk factors for mistreatment of older people include age, race, low income, functional or cognitive impairment, a history of violence, and recent stressful events. There is little information in the literature concerning the clinical profile of mistreated older people.
Objectives:
To describe the characteristics of abused or neglected patients and to compare the prevalence of depression and dementia in neglected patients with that of patients referred for other reasons.
Design:
A case control study.
Setting:
Baylor College of Medicine Geriatrics Clinic at the Harris County Hospital District (Houston, Texas).
Patients:
Forty-seven older persons referred for neglect and 97 referred for other reasons.
Intervention:
Comprehensive geriatric assessment.
Measurements:
Standard geriatric assessment tools.
Results:
There was a statistically significant higher prevalence of depression (62% vs 12%) and dementia (51% vs 30%) in victims of self-neglect compared to patients referred for other reasons.
Conclusions:
This is the first primary data study that highlights a high prevalence of depression as well as dementia in mistreated older people. Geriatric clinicians should rule out elder neglect or abuse in their depressed or demented patients.