Geriatric psychiatry
Geriatric psychiatry is a specialized field focused on diagnosing and treating mental and emotional disorders in individuals aged 65 and older. As the aging population continues to grow, particularly in developed countries, the relevance of this sub-specialty is becoming increasingly important. The complexities associated with aging—such as declining physical health, mental functioning, and social support—make proper diagnosis and treatment more challenging. Geriatric psychiatrists often take a broader, interdisciplinary approach, collaborating with various healthcare providers to create effective treatment plans tailored to the unique needs of older patients.
Common psychiatric syndromes addressed in this field include anxiety, depression, memory loss, and acute confusion. Additionally, practitioners are attentive to the impact of hospitalization and significant medical interventions on mental well-being. With an increase in federal funding and specialized training, there is a growing emphasis on improving mental health services for the elderly, including preventive care and support for family caregivers. Research continues to expand on the intersection of mental and physical health in older adults, highlighting the importance of healthy lifestyle choices. Overall, geriatric psychiatry is evolving to meet the demands of an aging society, aiming to enhance the quality of life for older individuals facing mental health challenges.
Geriatric psychiatry
Anatomy or system affected: All
Definition: A sub-specialty of psychiatry that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric syndromes experienced by the elderly..
Science and Profession
Geriatric psychiatry focuses on treating emotional and mental disorders in adults who are ages 65 and older. In the decades to come, this sub-specialty will continue to grow in importance as the sizable population of elderly persons will continue to grow, both in the United States and abroad. The typical American lifespan has increased to is 78.8 years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2030, twenty percent of the U.S. population will be older than 65. While this population subset will continue to increase, the percentage of younger generations in the most developed countries is projected to decrease. This is attributable to lower birth rates. The net result is that fewer people will bear the care of an increasingly elderly population. Many of these issues will be borne by family members who will serve as caretakers of elderly relatives. They will face the host of mental and emotional challenges that come as a person ages.
Growing numbers of the elderly population and the increased complexity of diagnosis and treatment of this age group have driven the growth of geriatric psychiatry. Psychiatrists who specialize in working with the geriatric population note that the psychiatric problems experienced by older people often fit poorly in the diagnostic categories set down in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV-TR .There is a relationship between declining physical health, decreasing mental functioning, social withdrawal and isolation, and vulnerability to stress. This makes proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment more difficult. In response to this complexity, practitioners of geriatric psychiatry tend to take a broader approach to diagnosis and use an interdisciplinary model in developing a treatment plan. The profession of geriatric psychiatry has developed most in Great Britain and Canada but is attracting growing numbers of practitioners in the United States and other Western countries.
Diagnostic and Treatment Techniques
Geriatric psychiatrists tend to follow the lead of specialists in geriatric medicine, who have found that taking a syndromal approach to diagnosis appears to work better with older patients. Among the psychiatric syndromes used by geriatric psychiatrists are acute confusion, anxiety, depression, hypochondriasis, insomnia, memory loss, and suspiciousness. Special attention must be given by geriatric psychiatrists to the older person’s overall ability to function, general health status, social support system, family history, and preexisting conditions. Geriatric psychiatrists are forced to acknowledge the role played by changes in the brain as it ages and to separate changes that are relatively benign changes from those that pose real threats to the patient. Hospitalization and significant medical intervention tend to occur more often in the later stages of a person’s life, and geriatric psychiatrists are aware that these events can greatly impact the patient’s mental well-being.
Geriatric psychiatrists draw readily upon the help of other healthcare providers in treating elderly persons, including the use of specially qualified clinical psychologists, social workers, nurses, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, dietitians, and physical therapists. Improving the understanding of family members and providing them with supportive advice and services can be an important part of the overall treatment plan.
Perspective and Prospects
In the United States, federal funding has expanded for qualified providers, such as clinical psychologists and social workers, to render mental health services to older people, especially those who live in long-term care facilities. Funds have increased for the proper training of those who provide mental health services to older people. Examinations have been established to show evidence of “added qualifications” in geriatric medicine and psychiatry. More textbooks and specialty journals devoted to geriatric mental health are now in circulation. The federal government has sponsored important national conferences on various aspects of geriatric mental health. With hospital and long-term care costs continuing to rise, more emphasis has been given to preventive and day-care services.
Furthermore, some hospitals have established specialized geropsychiatric units to improve diagnosis and treatment and decrease the time older people spend in the hospital. Services are expected to increase for adult children who care for older parents with mental illnesses. Research efforts have increased concerning the causes and appropriate treatment of psychiatric problems in older people. Older people are becoming healthier as they learn more about how mental health and physical health are affected by the way in which one lives. They are advised to stop smoking, eat a better diet, exercise more, and continue to take an active part in family and community life. All these trends are expected to continue in the future.
Bibliography
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