[Frequent psychiatric symptoms in the elderly patients]

In Japan, the elderly patients generally account for high percentages of both inpatients and outpatients. As aging of the population accelerates, it will become increasingly important to properly detect, assess and intervene for psychiatric symptoms of the elderly patients to establish differential diagnoses. Thus, we must assess all existing psychiatric symptoms by keeping in mind the brain/physical conditions and social circumstances of the elderly patients and considering not just their complaints but also objective information from other organizations/services. In doing so, particular emphasis should be placed on assessing consciousness. Decreased alertness should not be dismissed as "old age". Medical professionals and caregivers must carefully assess psychiatric symptoms in the elderly patients while respecting their self-esteem.