The American journal of psychiatry
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Transient cognitive disorders (delirium and pseudodelirium) are highly prevalent among the elderly, especially those with brain damage. Delirium is a common feature of physical illness or drug intoxication in elderly patients and requires prompt medical attention. ⋯ Transient cognitive disorders must not be confused with dementia, a chronic syndrome. The author discusses clinical features, etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of delirium and related transient disorders of cognition in the elderly.
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In 1975 the World Health Organization began a multinational collaborative study of the feasibility and effectiveness of offering community-based mental health care in developing countries. Services were to be offered by primary health care workers in pilot study areas in seven countries. The authors discuss the philosophic and epidemiologic underpinnings of the study, the factors that helped the collaborative effort develop, and some of the issues that emerged. Areas for future study are outlined.