Page 125 - Petelin, Ana, ur. 2021. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Zbornik povzetkov z recenzijo / Book of Abstracts. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
P. 125
impact of mental disorders in older adults on health psihologija / sociala in zdravje starejših odraslih | psychology / social and health of the elderly
and quality of life
Maja Muhič
Alma Mater Europaea – ECM, Maribor, Slovenia
Introduction. Increasing life expectancy emphasizes the importance of physi-
cal and mental health in old age. Age is accompanied by a number of problems
that adults have to face and adapt to at a later age. There is also evidence of in-
creased morbidity, mortality, hospitalization, and loss of functional status as-
sociated with frequent mental disorders in elderly patients. Mental health in-
cludes our emotional, psychological and social well-being.
Methods. In the research we used a qualitative research approach of scientif-
ic literature. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to analyze the articles.
The literature was accessed in the databases: PubMed, Proquest and Medline
with the help of keywords: Keywords were used in Slovene (Mental disorders,
age, health, quality of life) and in English (Mental disorders, age period, health,
quality of life). The keywords were associated with the Boolean operators and
and or.
Results. An analysis of the literature found that the most common mental and
neurological conditions in old age are dementia and depression, which affect
approximately 5% of the elderly world population. With 3.8%, they are fol-
lowed by the appearance of anxiety disorders. There is also a strong link be-
tween the symptoms of depression and some chronic diseases, especially my-
ocardial infarction and stroke, namely these two disease states are associated
with severe and lasting consequences of disability and high mortality rates.
Discussion and conclusion. Coexisting mental and physical conditions can reduce
the quality of life and lead to longer disease duration and poorer health out-
comes. Although adults maintain satisfactory living conditions with age, the
risks of loneliness and mental disorders increase with age.
Keywords: mental disorders, older adults, quality of life
123
and quality of life
Maja Muhič
Alma Mater Europaea – ECM, Maribor, Slovenia
Introduction. Increasing life expectancy emphasizes the importance of physi-
cal and mental health in old age. Age is accompanied by a number of problems
that adults have to face and adapt to at a later age. There is also evidence of in-
creased morbidity, mortality, hospitalization, and loss of functional status as-
sociated with frequent mental disorders in elderly patients. Mental health in-
cludes our emotional, psychological and social well-being.
Methods. In the research we used a qualitative research approach of scientif-
ic literature. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to analyze the articles.
The literature was accessed in the databases: PubMed, Proquest and Medline
with the help of keywords: Keywords were used in Slovene (Mental disorders,
age, health, quality of life) and in English (Mental disorders, age period, health,
quality of life). The keywords were associated with the Boolean operators and
and or.
Results. An analysis of the literature found that the most common mental and
neurological conditions in old age are dementia and depression, which affect
approximately 5% of the elderly world population. With 3.8%, they are fol-
lowed by the appearance of anxiety disorders. There is also a strong link be-
tween the symptoms of depression and some chronic diseases, especially my-
ocardial infarction and stroke, namely these two disease states are associated
with severe and lasting consequences of disability and high mortality rates.
Discussion and conclusion. Coexisting mental and physical conditions can reduce
the quality of life and lead to longer disease duration and poorer health out-
comes. Although adults maintain satisfactory living conditions with age, the
risks of loneliness and mental disorders increase with age.
Keywords: mental disorders, older adults, quality of life
123
