Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of Morrocan elderly psychiatric in

patients

Kachouhi Aymen*, Salim Said , Berghalout Mohammed, Adali Imane., Manoudi Fatiha., Asri
Fatima.
Page No. 16-24

Introduction :The aging of populations is a major public health issue, because of its health, social
and economic consequences. In half a century, the number of people over 60 will have tripled and
will represent two billion people worldwide . In Morocco, people aged 60 and over accounted for
8.1% according in 2004 , after being 7.2% in 1962. The purpose of this study is to describe the
epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic profile of elderly Moroccan patients hospitalized in the
Mohamed VI Marrakesh University psychiatric ward and to define their specificities in relation to
international data. Method: We conducted a descriptive prospective study of all elderly patients
admitted to the university psychiatric Hospital of Marrakech in Morocco between February 1st,
2016 and August 31st, 2016. The sample studied included 24 patients aged for 60 year and more.
Results: Data analysis has objectified the following results : The study population had an average
age of 62.84 years with a minimum of 60 years and a maximum of 67 years. 83.33% of patients (n =
20) were male with a sex ratio of 5.3. The rural origin was the most represented with a percentage
of 79.16%. Almost half of the patients (45.83%) were single More than two-thirds of the patients
(83.3%) had never attended 83.3% of patients used tobacco and 79.16% of patients used cannabis.
75% of the patients were diagnosed with schizophrenia. More than 75% of patients, had an age of
onset of symptoms before the age of 30. All patients had organic comorbidity associated with the
psychiatric disorder . Only one patient was on monotherapy and 87.5% of patients were on atypical
neuroleptics. Conclusion :Demographic evolution confronts psychiatrists to take care of elderly
patients, whose clinical characteristics require a particular teaching and a specific management.
Keywords : Psychiatry in the elderly ; elderly ; diagnosis ; comorbidity.