Life-threatening psychiatric emergencies in the elderly: overview

Behavioral emergencies in the elderly can often be life threatening. Diagnosis and management are problematic, in part due to the high incidence of comorbidity, including medical and neurologic disorders, as well as adverse effects of medications. The behavioral types of life-threatening psychiatric emergencies are confusion, suicidality, homicidality, aggression, and abuse. Substance-induced behavioral changes contribute to morbidity and mortality of elderly patients seen in various settings, including emergency departments, medical floors, and intensive care units. These potentially serious psychiatric disturbances in the elderly are discussed under the subheadings of epidemiology and diagnosis, clinical features and presentations, and management and disposition.