Geriatric and nongeriatric psychiatry consultation. A comparison study

Data from geriatric and nongeriatric psychiatry consultations done on medical and surgical inpatients at a Veterans Administration Medical Center over a 1-year period were analyzed. A total of 750 consultations were conducted. Patients age 60 and over were referred significantly more often for agitation and competency assessment, and significantly less often for suicidal ideation. More than half the older patients had evidence of an organic brain syndrome. Notably fewer geriatric than nongeriatric patients were diagnosed as having personality disorders. Psychotropic medications were prescribed and further medical workups were recommended more often for the elderly. The results have important implications for mental health professionals working with older patients. The need for more training of both psychiatric and nonpsychiatric residents in the management of geriatric patients is discussed.