THE PREVALENCE OF PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS IN ELDERLY RESIDENTS OF PUBLIC-HOUSING

Background. This study estimates lifetime and one-month prevalence of psychiatric disorders among elderly public housing residents. Method. Nine hundred forty-five residents of six public housing developments f or the elderly were administered the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ ), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the CAGE by lay inter viewers. Residents screening positive and a 10% random sample of scree n negatives were administered the structured Clinical Interview for DS M-III-R (SCID) and a DSM-III-R derived algorithm for dementia and deli rium. Prevalence rates were estimated based on weighted data from 298 subjects. Results. Thirty-six percent of participants screened positiv e on at least one instrument. Based on the case identification intervi ew, estimated lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders was 57.6%, and one-month prevalence was 27.9%. Cognitive disorder (10.5%), mood d isorder (8.0%), psychotic disorder (4.6%), and substance abuse/depende nce (4.4%) were the most common current disorders. Mood disorders (26. 6%) and substance abuse/dependence (23.0%) were the most prevalent lif etime disorders. Compared to data from the Epidemiologic Catchment Are a, public housing residents have higher current rates of mood disorder , schizophrenia, and substance use disorder. Conclusions. Elderly resi dents of public housing suffer higher rates of psychiatric morbidity t han older people living independently in the community. The high preva lence of psychiatric disorders in this growing population of low-incom e elderly presents a challenge to the delivery of mental health servic e.