Sections
Demography and Epidemiology of Psychiatric Disorders in Late
Life: Introduction | Demography | Case Identification | Distribution of Psychiatric Disorders | Historical Studies | Etiological Studies | Health Service Utilization | Key Points | References | Suggested Readings
Excerpt
Epidemiology is traditionally defined as the
distribution or pattern of disease within a specified population and
determinants or factors that affect these disease patterns (MacMahon and Pugh 1970). The epidemiology of psychiatric disorders
in late life, therefore, is the study of the distribution of psychiatric
disorders and psychiatric symptoms among older adults and the variables
that affect the distribution. In this chapter, the findings of demographers
and epidemiologists are reviewed as they relate to the care of the
psychiatrically impaired older adult.