Psychogeriatric Consultation Services: Effect and Effectiveness

Author:

Teitelbaum Louise1,Cotton Dorothy2,Ginsburg M Lynne3,Nashed Yousery H4

Affiliation:

1. Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University; Staff Psychiatrist, Kingston Psychiatric Hospital, Kingston, Ontario

2. Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University; Director, Community Psychiatric Services for the Elderly and Staff Psychiatrist, Kingston Psychiatric Hospital, Kingston, Ontario

3. Head of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University; Director, Geriatric Psychiatry Inpatient Service and Staff Psychiatrist, Kingston Psychiatric Hospital, Kingston, Ontario

4. Chief Psychologist, Kingston Psychiatric Hospital; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the nature of referrals to a psychogeriatric consultation/outreach service, the types of interventions provided, and the effects and effectiveness of the service. Method: The study used a prospective approach in which 67 consecutive patients referred for psychogeriatric assessment were followed up 6 to 8 weeks after the initial assessment and then again 6 months after initial contact. Patients were rated at the time of referral and at follow-up on presence of psychiatric diagnosis, need for institutional care, and placement outcome. Results: Of the 67 patients initially seen, 51 (76%) experienced memory problems and 46 (69%) had depressed mood. Consistent with this finding, 36 (54%) were diagnosed by consultants as having a dementia, and 15 (22%) received a diagnosis of depression. The most frequent recommendations included medication changes in 34 cases (50%) and further assessments in 37 cases (55%). Although information at 6-week follow-up was available for only 58% (n = 38) of the sample, 18 (46%) patients were generally improved. Interestingly, only 12 (31%) of referring physicians indicated that they had followed the advice of the consultants. Cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms were major concerns among referring physicians. The most common recommendation made involved pharmacotherapy. While compliance of family doctors to recommendations made was poor, patients improved over time. Patients requiring inpatient assessment were very old, living alone, experiencing behavioural problems, and not depressed. Conclusions: Psychogeriatric consultations appear most useful in cases where patients are more severely affected and/or are suffering from a greater range of symptoms.

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Subject

Psychiatry and Mental health

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