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A Short DSM-III-R–Based Diagnostic Instrument for Screening Mental Disorders in Geriatric Institutions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 January 2005

Matti Isohanni ,
Ilkka Winblad ,
Pentti Nieminen ,
Pirkko Hiltunen  and
Michael Spalding
Matti Isohanni
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
Ilkka Winblad
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Science and Pyhäsalmi Health Centre, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
Pentti Nieminen
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
Pirkko Hiltunen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
Michael Spalding
Affiliation:
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
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Abstract

A screening instrument based on the DSM-III-R was developed in order to differentiate aged persons with or without a DSM-III-R mental disorder. The usefulness of this instrument was investigated in six geriatric institutions with 171 residents aged 65 to 93 years in Finland. The nursing staff independently rated the mental status of residents; researchers (a psychiatrist and general practitioner) made a diagnosis based on DSM-III-R criteria. The majority of the residents (mean 69%, varying from 33% to 84% in different institutions) had a DSM-III-R mental disorder. This screening instrument functioned well in differentiating residents without a mental disorder from those with DSM-III-R mental disorder: The nursing staff's agreement was 90%, kappa .71, sensitivity .90, and specificity .88. However, only half the cases of depression were diagnosed correctly: Sensitivity was .50 and specificity .95. With a more specific 9-class diagnostic instrument based mainly on DSM-III-R categories, agreement was only moderate (68%) and kappa .59. The instrument developed in this study seemed to be a useful screening method when applied by the staff, but accurate diagnostics require psychiatric knowledge, especially of depression.

Type
Community Studies
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 8 , Issue 3 , September 1996 , pp. 459 - 468
Copyright
© 1996 International Psychogeriatric Association

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