A highlight of opening day at the ninth International Psychogeriatric Association international congress was the recognition of outstanding research in the field of psychogeriatrics. First prize went to Jurgen Unutzer MD, MPH of Los Angeles, with Donald L Patrick PhD, MSPH, Paula Diehr PhD, Greg Simon MD, MPH, David Grembowski PhD and Wayne Katon MD, for a paper entitled: "Quality adjusted life years in older adults with depressive symptoms and chronic medical disorders."
The researchers compared elderly victims of severe "depression" to those who had many other chronic and debilitating diseases. IPA president Dr. Barry Reisberg, who presented the award, said: "They found that depression had a greater effect on quality of life than such conditions as stroke, cancer diabetes, and high blood pressure."
Second prize was given to Sarvada Chandra Tiwari MD, MNAMS of Lucknow, India for a study of "Geriatric Psychiatric Morbidity in Rural Northern India--Implications for Future." Dr. Tiwari's study documents that there are almost 30 million psychogeriatrically ill persons in India, but few resources to treat the problem and little specialty training of the country's professionals, India has made astonishing strides in life expectancy. However, Dr. Tiwari says: "We have to realize that adding life to years is more important than adding years to life."
