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Medicines and mental illness in old age
Canadian Psychiatric Association Journal
|June 1, 1975
Summary
Carefully review elderly patients' medications and prescribe familiar drugs sparingly to avoid psychiatric side effects. This review focuses on common medications and their potential adverse psychiatric reactions in geriatric populations.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Elderly patients often present with psychiatric disturbances.
- Polypharmacy is common in geriatric care, increasing the risk of drug interactions and side effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To emphasize the importance of medication review in elderly patients with psychiatric symptoms.
- To highlight potential psychiatric side effects of commonly prescribed drugs in the elderly.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on drug-induced psychiatric disturbances in the elderly.
- Analysis of common medications used in geriatric populations.
Main Results:
- Psychiatric side effects are a significant concern with many drugs used in elderly patients.
- Familiarity with drug profiles is crucial for safe prescribing.
Conclusions:
- Judicious prescribing and thorough medication review are essential for managing psychiatric disturbances in the elderly.
- Clinicians should be aware of the psychiatric adverse effects of commonly used medications in this age group.