Objective: Describe the general characteristics of the elderly mental health, the presence of depression and the existence of cognitive problems.
Design: Population-based study, cross sectional, probabilistic and bi phase stratified by socioeconomic status.
Material and Methods: The study was made in Lima. From a universe of 7,775,138 people, the total study sample was of 4,388 and of this number the elderly sample were 632. The evaluation was made by trained psychologist interviewers who applied a structure instrument to the person at their home. The instruments used were: Mental Health Questionnaire; Quality of Life index; Mini Mental State Examination; Familiar Violence Questionnaire; Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview; questionnaire of access to health services. The validity and reliability of the whole instrument were made by pre-pilot study on 20 institutional patients and on 100 community dwellers.
Results: Social Demographic Data - 52,9% female; average age; 69,2 (60 –74:77,5%; 75-84:18,7%; >85: 3,8%). Illiteracy 10,8%, most prevalent on female. Education: elemental: 47,8%; high school: 24,8%; bachiller: 0,5% ; superior: 12,2%. marital history: married or cohabited 63,7%; divorced: 1,8%; separated: 8,4%; widow: 21%; single: 5,1%. Occupation: active worker:19,4%. Mental Health Characteristics Major Psychosocial stressors: Health, 42,7% ; economical 37,2%, children and relatives 26%; work/ study 24,1%; partner 19,9%. Personal satisfaction (self-esteem) (scale 5-20) average 14,8 with no difference on gender. Work well being (scale 5-20) average 15.8. Quality of Life: (scale 1-10) with reference to physical, psychological, self care, occupational and interpersonal functioning and emotional and social support perception: average 7,61. Mental Disorders - Suicide - Lifetime prevalence of ideational suicide thoughts 27,8%.( 18,8% male; 35,6% female). Year prevalence of ideational suicide thoughts 12,2%.( 7,1% male; 16,7% female). Month prevalence of ideational suicide thoughts 6.2%.(3,8% male; 8,3% female). Lifetime prevalence of suicide actions 2,5%.( 1,2% male; 3,6% female). Year prevalence of suicide actions 0,3%.( 0,3% male; 0,3% female). Month prevalence of suicide actions 0%. Depression - The prevalence is of 9,8%, more frequently in the female and in those over 75 years old. Cognitive aspects - Of the 30 points of the Mini Mental State, the media was in 23,4, and 10,7% of the evaluated elderly had less than 20 points. Violence - The prevalence in the last year was 25% and 9.8% is mistreated in a systematic way, 1 or 2 times monthly. The most frequent type is the offensive one (insults, verbal aggression, humiliation, others) Access to Services - 25,2% felt some type of emotional problems in the last 6 months. And of them, only 30,35% look for some medical service. The majority of them visited a general hospital for assistance.
Conclusion: The results inform us about the need of public social programs, education, prevention programs, related services, and research.
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