Assessing Diagnosis and Symptoms Profiles of Late-Life Psychosis

Abstract

Background: There are many controversies with regard to the nosology and conditions causing psychosis in old age people. This study defines a symptom profile and differential diagnosis of late-onset psychosis. Method: 201 elderly persons with psychotic symptoms were recruited. All patients were interviewed based on SCID-1 to confirm the possible diagnosis. Results: The most delusional symptom reported by the subjects was persecutory delusion, and visual hallucinations were the most common hallucination. The most repeated diagnosis was dementia, followed by psychosis due to mood disorders, primary psychotic disorders, delirium, and psychosis due to medical conditions. Conclusions: Results from the current study indicate that late-life psychoses form a heterogeneous group of disorders with varying symptom profiles and etiologies.