Associates of cognitive functions in aged Turkish adults: Insights from a psychiatry outpatient clinic

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the cognitive function and its influential factors in elderly adults in Turkey. Materials and Methods: 127 patients aged over 65 years referred to a psychiatry outpatient clinic for the first time were included to cross-sectional and descriptive study. Patients were assessed by Carlson Comorbidity index, Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test, Geriatric Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Nottingham Health Profile and Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale. Results: The mean age of the patients was 69.7±4.2 years and 55.1% (n=70) of the participants were female. The primary diagnosis was Generalized Anxiety Disorder in 48.8% and Major depressive disorder in 51.2% of the patients. In multivariate analysis, age (OR:0.759, 95% CI:0.630-0.914, p=0.004), income <3800 TL (OR:14.72, 95% CI:1.78-121.51, p=0.013), medication usage (OR:0.171, 95% CI:0.035-0.845, p=0.030) and Geriatric Depression Scale score (OR:0.876, 95% CI:0.785-0.977, p=0.017) remained as independent predictors of Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test score. Conclusion: In Turkish adults with Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Major depressive disorder who admit to a psychiatry outpatient clinic for the first time, various parameters including age, education, income, leisure activity, medication usage, depression, Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale score and Nottingham Health Profile score are linked with cognitive impairment. However, only age, income, medication usage and depression independently associate with cognitive impairment in this highly specific patient population. Keywords: Cognitive Dysfunction; Geriatric Psychiatry; Depression; Quality of Life.