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Management of panic disorder in the elderly.
Maxime Pace1, Mathilde Heckendorn1, Bruno Aouizerate2
1Centre ressource régional de psychiatrie du sujet âgé (CRRPSA), Service de psychiatrie et d'addictologie de l'adulte et du sujet âgé, DMU psychiatrie et addictologie, AP-HP Centre-Université de Paris, Paris, France.
Geriatrie Et Psychologie Neuropsychiatrie Du Vieillissement
|October 6, 2021
Summary
Panic disorder in older adults is underdiagnosed but treatable. Effective treatments include antidepressants like SSRIs and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), with cautious use of benzodiazepines.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Panic disorder in the elderly is understudied, leading to underdiagnosis and inadequate treatment.
- This population experiences significant functional impairment, reduced quality of life, and increased suicide risk.
- Limited research exists on effective treatments specifically for older adults with panic disorder.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize current knowledge on pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments for panic disorder in the elderly.
- To propose a medical treatment algorithm for managing panic disorder in older patients, particularly those resistant to treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of current knowledge on pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions for panic disorder in the elderly.
- Development of a treatment algorithm based on expert opinion and extrapolated data, emphasizing evidence-based practices.
Main Results:
- Antidepressant treatment, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), is emphasized.
- Restricted use of benzodiazepines is recommended due to potential risks in the elderly.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is highlighted as an important psychotherapeutic approach.
Conclusions:
- Effective management of panic disorder in the elderly requires tailored approaches, prioritizing SSRIs and CBT.
- Awareness of drug interactions and cautious benzodiazepine use are crucial for this population.
- The proposed treatment algorithm can aid clinicians in selecting appropriate therapies for older patients with panic disorder.
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