Gerospsychiatric Morbidity Survey in a Semi-urban Area near Madurai

Tiruppuvanam, with a population of 15,668 a semi-urban area near Madurai was chosen for a door to door survey to assess the psychiatric and physical morbidity in all those aged 60 and above. There were 686, in this age group. The socio economic status, family structure, social integration, occupation, literacy, physical illness and handicaps in the total population were assessed and compared with the psychiatrically morbid group. The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was estimated at 89/1000. 48.84% suffered from physical morbidity. 57% of the psychiatric group suffered physical morbidity and 85% from sensory handicaps. The findings indicated that lack of social integration rather than social isolation, and lack of occupation were significantly related to psychiatric morbidity. The type of family structure did not relate to the degree of social integration. Depressive illness contributed to 67% of total psychiatric morbidity, some intervention measures are suggested.