The De Facto Mental Illness in Korean Elderly.
- Author:
Maeng Je CHO
1
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National Universuty College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Korean;
Elderly;
Mental illness;
Prevalence
- MeSH:
Adult;
Aged*;
Alcoholism;
Surveys and Questionnaires;
Delivery of Health Care;
Dementia;
Dementia, Vascular;
Depression;
Depressive Disorder, Major;
Dysthymic Disorder;
Geriatric Psychiatry;
Hope;
Humans;
Incidence;
Mental Disorders;
Mental Health;
Prevalence;
Sleep Wake Disorders
- From:Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
2002;41(5):758-766
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Depression, dementia, and other psychiatric disorders of the aged persons are usually chronic and recurrent. These make the daily lives of the eldrly very troublesome. These mental disorders will demand more and more attention from the elderly health care systems. Dementia is present in 6.26-11.3% of Korean elderly. Prevalence of Alzheimer's type is 4.17-5.3%, and that of the vascular dementia is 1.05-2.5%. Prevalence of major depressive disorder in the elderly aged 65 years and older is 4.2-7.5%, and that of dysthymic disorder is 2.0-3.9%. Depressive symptoms are reported up to 7-23.5% of older adults according to the survey methods and sample groups. Alcoholism, sleep disorders and other mental health related conditions are also important concerns but have not been as well studied as depression and dementia. In this review, we examined the prevalence and incidence of major mental disorders based on the national epidemiological data of Korean elderly. Therefore we hope that this perspective gives supports to the development of educational plans of geriatric psychiatry. And, hopefully, the present data help the government and NGOs establish and promote the policy for the health of the aged population.
