In 60 elderly patients referred for psychiatric assessment, the commonest psychiatric disorders were depressive illness & dementia. Patients with depression were younger. 7 patients with depression were admitted for attempted suicide & 5 were referred because of headache & chest discomfort. The main reasons for referral of patients with dementia were disturbed & confused behavior. Other psychiatric disorders were delirium, paraphrenia, alcohol dependence syndrome & anxiety neurosis. 21 refs.