A descriptive study of first presentation psychosis in old age

Objective: This report describes the characteristics of a sample of elderly subjects presenting with their first episode of psychosis in old age. Method: Forty-six (38 females and eight males) patients were assessed on a variety of cognitive, psychopathological and personality measures. Results: Female preponderance, social isolation and early cognitive deficit s were findings of this study which have been replicated by other studies o f late-onset psychosis. In contrast, hearing loss was not overly represente d in this sample. Personality style differed significantly from accepted no rms of adult personality traits, with lower scores for dimensional ratings of neuroticism, extraversion and openness to change. Conclusions: The descriptive findings in this study suggest that psychosoci al factors require further investigation in patients presenting with late-o nset psychosis. Comparison with younger first-onset psychotic subjects will be! the subject of a later report.