Department of Geriatric Mental Health, Chhatrapati Sahuji Maharaj Medical University UP, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Indian J Psychiatry. 2012 Jan;54(1):8-14. doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.94639.
In view of appreciable improvements in health care services in India, the longevity and life expectancy have almost doubled. As a result, there is significant demographic transition, and the population of older adults in the country is growing rapidly. Epidemiological surveys have revealed enormous mental health morbidity in older adults (aged 60 years and above) and have necessitated immediate need for the development of mental health services in India. The present population of older adults was used to calculate psychiatric morbidity based on the reported epidemiological data. The demographic and social changes, health care planning, available mental health care services and morbidity data were critically examined and analyzed. The service gap was calculated on the basis of available norms for the country vis-à-vis average mental health morbidity. Data from a recent epidemiological study indicated an average of 20.5% mental health morbidity in older adults. Accordingly, it was found that, at present, 17.13 million older adults (total population, 83.58 millions) are suffering from mental health problems in India. A differing, but in many aspects similar, picture emerged with regard to human resource and infrastructural requirements based on the two norms for the country to meet the challenges posed by psychiatrically ill older adults. A running commentary has been provided based on the available evidences and strategic options have been outlined to meet the requirements and minimize the gap. There is an urgent need to develop the subject and geriatric mental health care services in India.
鉴于印度医疗保健服务的显著改善，其寿命和预期寿命几乎翻了一番。因此，人口结构发生了重大转变，该国的老年人口迅速增加。流行病学调查显示，老年人（60 岁及以上）的心理健康发病率极高，这使得印度急需发展心理健康服务。本研究基于已报道的流行病学数据，利用老年人口计算精神疾病发病率。对人口和社会变化、医疗保健规划、现有的心理健康服务和发病率数据进行了严格审查和分析。根据国家现有的规范和平均心理健康发病率，计算了服务缺口。最近一项流行病学研究的数据表明，老年人的精神健康发病率平均为 20.5%。因此，研究发现，目前印度有 1713 万老年人（总人口 8358 万）患有精神健康问题。根据国家的两个规范，针对精神病老年患者面临的挑战，人力资源和基础设施需求呈现出不同但在许多方面相似的情况。本研究基于现有证据提供了实时评论，并概述了战略选择，以满足需求并缩小差距。印度迫切需要发展该学科和老年精神卫生保健服务。
