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Posttraumatic stress disorder in the elderly: a review
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Louisville, KY, USA.
Harvard Review of Psychiatry
|September 14, 1999
Summary
Posttraumatic disorder (PTSD) in older adults significantly impacts their coping abilities and life transitions. While symptoms and neurobiology are similar across ages, specific research on treating elderly individuals with PTSD is lacking.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychiatry
- Neurobiology
Background:
- Posttraumatic disorder (PTSD) affects elderly individuals' capacity to manage life stress and developmental stages.
- Trauma experienced at any life stage can lead to PTSD, with symptoms varying in persistence and duration.
- Trauma severity and prior psychiatric conditions increase PTSD risk, while personality traits and social support offer protection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the presentation and neurobiology of PTSD in the elderly.
- To discuss current treatment mainstays for PTSD.
- To highlight the lack of age-specific research on PTSD treatment efficacy in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of PTSD in elderly populations.
- Examination of neurobiological factors implicated in PTSD.
- Analysis of current therapeutic approaches.
Main Results:
- Elderly individuals are not more predisposed to PTSD than younger individuals.
- PTSD symptoms (reexperiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal) are consistent across age groups.
- Aging-related physiological changes do not appear to influence PTSD development or presentation.
Conclusions:
- PTSD in the elderly shares core features with younger populations.
- Established treatments like antidepressants and cognitive-behavioral therapy are current mainstays.
- There is a critical need for systematic, controlled research on PTSD treatment in the elderly population.