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Special articles:
Anna Richman, Ken Wilson, Lynn Scally, Paul Edwards, and Jacqueline Wood
Service innovations: An outreach support team for older people with mental illness - crisis intervention
Psychiatr Bull 2003; 27: 348-351 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

eLetters: Submit a response to this article

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Old age psychiatry in South India.: Srivatsa Gopal Vyasarayani (1 September 2003)

Old age psychiatry in South India. 1 September 2003

Srivatsa Gopal Vyasarayani,
P.G Registrar,Dept. of Psychiatry.
Christian Medical College,Vellore,India.
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Re: Old age psychiatry in South India.

srivatsa21{at}cmcvellore.ac.in Srivatsa Gopal Vyasarayani

Sir, I must admit that my experience in Geriatric Psychiatry is limited. But,as Geriatric Psychiatry is one of my areas of interest and the old-young equation in India is different from that of the west, I am writing this letter. There is no doubt that some old people with a mental illness need inpatient care. However, in a developing country like India, where a significant amount of the population is below the poverty line, and also considering the social support such individuals usually have, I would like to make the following points; 1. It is better in old age not to disturb the natural environment to the maximum extent possible. 2. In severe illness necessitating admission,the shortest possible stay and maximum effective care is necessary. 3. It is better that the follow up of comorbid medical conditions be done with the family physician. 4. It is also advisable to let the family hold multiple explanatory models. 5. Practical,down to earth management to the maximum extent possible is necessary. We try to follow this in our hospital at Vellore and have found this approach satisfying both to the family and ourselves also.