Psychiatric diagnoses among geriatric patients seen in an outreach program

Over 2300 patients referred to a geriatric outreach program were evaluated for the relationships between diagnosis and (1) referral reason, (2) referral source, and (3) age. Referral reason was only a clue to the eventual diagnosis. Patients referred for depression received a diagnosis of depression in only 46 per cent of such referrals, and patients referred for forgetfulness or confusion received a diagnosis of dementia in only 37 per cent of these referrals. Families were most likely to refer demented patients, and health agencies to refer depressed patients. Apartment managers and housing authority representatives were least likely to refer depressed patients and most likely to refer paranoid patients. The rate for diagnosis of dementia increased with age, whereas the rates for diagnoses of depression and alcohol/drug abuse decreased with age.