Special Populations

Articles

Addiction among older adults is associated with worse medical outcomes and increased economic burden of care. The long-term use of psychoactive substances can result in adverse neurological outcomes even at therapeutic doses. 

5 Steps to Improve Outcomes in Substance Abuse in Older Patients

The development of specific diagnostic criteria that are applicable to older adults can aid in the accurate diagnosis of psychiatric disorders in late life. 

The Most Prevalent Psychiatric Disorder in Older Adults

Slideshows

Finding and treating the underlying cause of sleep disturbance is critical to effective management. Here are a few medical conditions that may trigger key disrupting symptoms.

14 Medical Conditions That Contribute to Insomnia

How can psychiatrists help caregivers deal with behavioral disturbances at home, without the possibility of an in-person doctor’s appointment? In this video, Marc E. Agronin, MD, offers tips for helping patients with Alzheimer disease and other dementias.

Caring for Patients With Neurocognitive Disorders During the Pandemic

Parkinson disease psychosis is associated with worsening quality of life, greater caregiver distress, higher rates of institutionalization, increased mortality, and greater health care costs. The authors explore medical, psychosocial, and psychological factors associated with PD psychosis.

Parkinson Disease Psychosis

BPSD is associated with worse outcomes for patients with dementia. Management is not standardized, but protocols generally involve the treatment of underlying symptoms followed by the use of nonpharmacological management techniques and evidence-based pharmacotherapy for refractory BPSD.

Managing Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia

In this video, Marc E. Agronin, MD, discusses several factors that may play a role in agitation. One would be underlying medical causes. It could be an acute disease state impairing brain function. And the list goes on.

Detecting Agitation in Patients With Dementia and Alzheimer Disease

Recommendations for the use of antipsychotics for the management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.

8 Strategies for Managing BPSD

Agitation can worsen function, pose safety concerns, and increase caregiver stress. It can be both confusing and frustrating to understand and manage these behaviors, but there are several approaches that can make all the difference.

Understanding and Managing Agitation Associated with Dementia

Patients with a family history of Alzheimer disease worry that normal aging symptoms are the initial indication of a progressive cognitive impairment that they have observed in their relatives. A variety of interventions are discussed.

Geriatric Psychiatry

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