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Attitudes towards mental illness and the elderly^*

EMI Directorate, West London Healthcare NHS Trust, Uxbridge Road, Southall, Middlesex UB1 3EU

David Kennard

Glaxo Pharmaceuticals UK Limited, Stockley Park West, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB11 1BT

Brice Pitt, Professor^*

Academic Unit of Psychiatry, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, St Charles' Hospital, London W10 6DZ

^* Report of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (Section for the Psychiatry of Old Age) study.

^* Correspondence

Views of the elderly were obtained from a cross-section of the public using 12 semi-structured interviews in the form of stratified group discussions. As a group, the elderly were generally thought of in negative terms. Furthermore, they were held parity responsible for their perceived status, in particular by failing to keep physically active and to avoid mental deterioration and depression which were not considered conditions requiring treatment. In contrast, Alzheimer's disease was recognised as a disease, and sympathy was expressed for patient and carer. It was expected that responsibility for caring for the elderly mentally ill should pass to the State once the burden on carers became intolerable.