Description:
<jats:p><jats:bold>BACKGROUND:</jats:bold> The risk factors for mistreatment of older people include age, race, low income, functional or cognitive impairment, a history of violence, and recent stressful events. There is little information in the literature concerning the clinical profile of mistreated older people.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>OBJECTIVES:</jats:bold> To describe the characteristics of abused or neglected patients and to compare the prevalence of depression and dementia in neglected patients with that of patients referred for other reasons.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>DESIGN:</jats:bold> A case control study.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>SETTING:</jats:bold> Baylor College of Medicine Geriatrics Clinic at the Harris County Hospital District (Houston, Texas).</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>PATIENTS:</jats:bold> Forty‐seven older persons referred for neglect and 97 referred for other reasons.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>INTERVENTION:</jats:bold> Comprehensive geriatric assessment.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>MEASUREMENTS:</jats:bold> Standard geriatric assessment tools.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>RESULTS:</jats:bold> There was a statistically significant higher prevalence of depression (62% vs 12%) and dementia (51% vs 30%) in victims of self‐neglect compared to patients referred for other reasons.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>CONCLUSIONS:</jats:bold> This is the first primary data study that highlights a high prevalence of depression as well as dementia in mistreated older people. Geriatric clinicians should rule out elder neglect or abuse in their depressed or demented patients. <jats:bold>J Am Geriatr Soc 48: 205–208, 2000.</jats:bold></jats:p>