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Disorientation in chronic psychiatric patients
1Rehabilitation Service, Nova Scotia Hospital, Halifax.
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. Revue Canadienne De Psychiatrie
|November 14, 1997
Summary
Age disorientation affects 26% of institutionalized psychiatric patients, impacting cognitive performance. This specific cognitive impairment is linked to chronic institutionalization in schizophrenic patients, not just illness duration.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Chronic institutionalization may affect cognitive function in psychiatric patients.
- Previous research indicated age disorientation in up to 25% of chronic schizophrenic patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of chronic institutionalization on cognitive performance.
- To specifically examine age disorientation in chronic psychiatric patients.
Main Methods:
- 110 chronic psychiatric patients were categorized into four groups: schizophrenic, non-schizophrenic, institutionalized, and non-institutionalized.
- Age disorientation and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were assessed for each group.
Main Results:
- 26% of institutionalized patients exhibited age disorientation and had significantly lower MMSE scores.
- Age disorientation was not observed in non-institutionalized schizophrenic patients or other non-institutionalized psychiatric patients.
- Among those with age disorientation, one experienced age delusion, and five had MMSE scores indicative of dementia.
Conclusions:
- Age disorientation is a distinct phenomenon observed in a subset of chronically ill, institutionalized schizophrenic patients.
- Cognitive impairment is not solely attributed to the chronicity of illness or length of hospitalization.