Caracterización de los Trastornos Mentales en Adultos Mayores Atendidos en un Hospital Universitario: Estudio Transversal

Marcelo O’Higgins; Noelia Ruiz Díaz; Iván Barrios; Tomás Caycho-Rodríguez; João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia; Antonio Ventriglio; Julio Torales

doi:10.18004/mem.iics/1812-9528/2025.e23142501

Authors

Marcelo O’Higgins Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Grupo de Investigación sobre Epidemiología de los Trastornos Mentales, Psicopatología y Neurociencias. San Lorenzo, Paraguay https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8257-0183
Noelia Ruiz Díaz Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Grupo de Investigación sobre Epidemiología de los Trastornos Mentales, Psicopatología y Neurociencias. San Lorenzo, Paraguay https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5321-9589
Iván Barrios Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Filial Santa Rosa del Aguaray, Cátedra de Bioestadística. Santa Rosa del Aguaray, Paraguay. Universidad Sudamericana, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Sede Salto del Guairá. Salto del Guairá, Paraguay https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6843-7685
Tomás Caycho-Rodríguez Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Perú https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5349-7570
João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia Fundación de ABC, Departamento de Neurociencia. Santo André, São Paulo, Brasil. Universidad de São Paulo, Departamento de Psiquiatría. São Paulo, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9621-2291
Antonio Ventriglio Universidad de Foggia, Departamento de Medicina Clínica y Experimental. Foggia, Italia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3934-7007
Julio Torales Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Grupo de Investigación sobre Epidemiología de los Trastornos Mentales, Psicopatología y Neurociencias. San Lorenzo, Paraguay. Universidad Sudamericana, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Sede Salto del Guairá. Salto del Guairá, Paraguay. Universidad de Los Lagos, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Postgrado. Osorno, Chile https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3277-7036

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18004/mem.iics/1812-9528/2025.e23142501

Keywords:

Mental disorders, older adults, mental health, epidemiology, Paraguay

Abstract

This cross-sectional study characterized the diagnoses of mental disorders in older adults who attended the Department of Psychiatry at a university hospital in Paraguay between February 2021 and December 2023. A total of 1,033 individuals aged 65 years or older with psychiatric diagnoses were included. The most frequent diagnoses were depressive episodes, generalized anxiety disorder, and dementia. The majority of patients were women, which aligns with existing literature linking female longevity to a higher prevalence of mental disorders in this age group. Significant differences were observed based on area of residence: mood and anxiety disorders were more common in urban areas, while neurocognitive and psychotic disorders predominated in rural settings. None of the participants had health insurance, highlighting their vulnerability within a fragmented healthcare system. Most patients came from the Central Department, likely due to better access to medical care in urban zones. The most common reasons for consultation included routine check-ups, follow-ups, referrals, insomnia, and anxiety, indicating a high demand for continuous mental health care. This study provides relevant evidence on the epidemiology of mental disorders among older adults in Paraguay, emphasizing the need to tailor mental health interventions to the specific needs of this population, considering gender, age, and urban-rural context. The findings underscore the urgent need for more inclusive and accessible public mental health policies, particularly for older adults without health coverage who face multiple barriers to accessing specialized services.

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