Diagnostic differences in psychogeriatric patients in Toronto, New York and London, England

National statistics on psychiatric illness in the elderly patient from Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom suggest great differences in morbidity in these three centres. The present study shows that these differences stem mainly from different diagnostic habits in the three countries, but also there were more alcoholics in the Canadian sample. In particular, the diagnostic bias of the New York psychiatrists towards diagnosing most elderly patients as senile was not shared by their Toronto colleagues. Some patients were psychiatrically well, in spite of receiving a psychiatric diagnosis, and could have been helped without hospitalization. In addition, some depressed patients were labelled senile. Recommendations include improvement of catchment and treatment facilities for the elderly alcoholic and the provision of psychogeriatric diagnostic centres.