Journal of Psychiatry

The level and problems of Mental Health in elderly people in Shkodra, Albania

25^th World Summit on Psychology, Psychiatry & Psychotherapy

October 19-20, 2017 | San Francisco, USA

Gusha Cela Kilda

Directory of public health,mentalhealth sector, Shkoder, Albania

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Psychiatry

Abstract:

Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the lifetime prevalence and risk factors of mental disorders in elderly people of Shkodra city. Method: The study was conducted in Shkodra, Albania. Individuals aged 65+ years old that were presented to community mental health center with problems of mental disorders were eligible to be part of this study. For all participants (108) standardized questions were used for problems of mental health and epidemiological data for the period 2014-2016. Results: An average 8.11% of the total sample that have been presented for the necessary treatment and consultation in the community mental health center in Shkodra for the previous three years were elderly people. This study has reported heterogeneous result on the prevalence of mental disorders in the elderly of Shkodra city. This prevalence varied with age, gender, residence, marital status and condition of living with differences across diseases. The most predominant mental disorder was Schizophrenia with 22 (20.4%) patients. More than 32 (29.6%) reported a lifetime history of depressive disorders; 27 (25%) patients reported dementia and Alzheimer; 21.3% affective disorder and anxiety disorder and 3.7 mental retardation. Major depression and affective disorder were the most common single mental disorders. Some of them have reported two or more mental disorders in their life time history. Conclusion: The prevalence of mental disorders was high in elderly people. The results told that mental disorders are important determinants in quality of life. So we suggest the necessity for the further development and improvement of harmonized instruments for the assessment of mental disorders to older adults.

Biography :

Gusha Çela Kilda has received the Academic title – Bachelor’s in Psychology at Luigj Gurakuqi University 'Psychology branch in 2005-2008. In 2008-2010, she graduated with Master of Science in the direction of the School Psychologist and the Organization of Tirana University and PhD in Psychology at the European University of Tirana (in 2012). Since 2010, she works full time at the Regional Public Health Directorate, and during this period worked as Assistant Pedagog at the University of Shkodra Luigj Gurakuqi, and Lecturer in the subject of Psychology Stress. She has published some scientific articles and has been heavily engaged in the non-governmental maltesser organization to help psychologically and emotionally children with autism.