الفهرس 
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION
The elderly have an increased prevalence of psychotic symptoms; they can be primary or secondary. Psychotic symptoms, if not recognized and treated, will increase the morbidity of the elderly patient. One of the common causes of psychosis in the elderly is schizophrenia (Manepalli et al, 2007).
Among patients with schizophrenia; 20-30% had an onset of illness after age 40 year (Sacchetti et al, 2011). In spite of that the number of persons aged 55 and older with a diagnosis of schizophrenia is projected to double over the next 20 years, from 500,000 to one million persons (Vahia et al., 2007); there is a paucity of data on this age group (McAlpine et al., 2003). The concept of late onset schizophrenia (LOS) has been the source of considerable debate and diagnostic confusion over the past century.
RATIONALE, HYPOTHESIS AND AIM OF THE WORK
Since older patients with schizophrenia represent a rapidly growing population (Palmer et al., 2003); it is important to explore that issue and clarify its position.