Common Psychiatric Disorders in the Elderly
Slide 1: Title Slide
● Title: Common Psychiatric Disorders in the Elderly
● Subtitle: Recognizing and Addressing Mental Health Challenges in Older Adults
● Your Name
● Date
Slide 2: Introduction
● Mental health in aging:
○ Often overlooked
○ Significant impact on quality of life
○ Increased risk of chronic diseases and mortality
● Common psychiatric disorders in the elderly:
○ Depression
○ Anxiety disorders
○ Dementia
○ Delirium
○ Substance abuse disorders
○ Psychosis
Slide 3: Depression
● Symptoms:
○ Persistent sadness
○ Loss of interest or pleasure
○ Changes in appetite or sleep
○ Fatigue
○ Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
○ Difficulty concentrating
○ Thoughts of death or suicide
● Risk factors:
○ Chronic medical conditions
○ Social isolation
○ Bereavement
○ Medications
Slide 4: Anxiety Disorders
● Types:
○ Generalized anxiety disorder
○ Panic disorder
○ Social anxiety disorder
○ Obsessive-compulsive disorder
○ Post-traumatic stress disorder
● Symptoms:
○ Excessive worry
○ Fear
○ Panic attacks
○ Avoidance behaviors
Slide 5: Dementia
● Progressive decline in cognitive function:
○ Memory
○ Thinking
○ Language
○ Judgment
● Types:
○ Alzheimer's disease
○ Vascular dementia
○ Lewy body dementia
○ Frontotemporal dementia
● Risk factors:
○ Age
○ Family history
○ Genetics
○ Lifestyle factors
Slide 6: Delirium
● Acute confusional state:
○ Fluctuating mental status
○ Inattention
○ Disorganized thinking
○ Altered level of consciousness
● Causes:
○ Infections
○ Medications
○ Dehydration
○ Electrolyte imbalances
○ Surgery
Slide 7: Substance Abuse Disorders
● Alcohol and drug abuse:
○ Can worsen existing mental health conditions
○ Increase risk of falls and accidents
○ Complicate medical treatment
Slide 8: Psychosis
● Loss of contact with reality:
○ Hallucinations
○ Delusions
○ Disorganized thinking
● Causes:
○ Dementia
○ Depression
○ Bipolar disorder
○ Schizophrenia
○ Medications
Slide 9: Assessment and Diagnosis
● Comprehensive geriatric assessment:
○ Medical history
○ Mental status examination
○ Cognitive testing
○ Functional assessment
○ Social history
● Differential diagnosis:
○ Rule out medical causes
○ Consider medication side effects
Slide 10: Treatment
● Depression:
○ Psychotherapy
○ Medications (antidepressants)
● Anxiety disorders:
○ Psychotherapy
○ Medications (anxiolytics)
● Dementia:
○ Medications to slow progression
○ Supportive care
● Delirium:
○ Treat underlying cause
○ Reorient the patient
● Substance abuse disorders:
○ Detoxification
○ Rehabilitation
○ Support groups
● Psychosis:
○ Medications (antipsychotics)
○ Psychotherapy
Slide 11: Prevention and Management
● Promote healthy lifestyle:
○ Regular exercise
○ Balanced diet
○ Adequate sleep
● Social engagement:
○ Maintain social connections
○ Participate in activities
● Early detection and intervention:
○ Regular checkups
○ Screening for mental health disorders
● Caregiver support:
○ Education
○ Respite care
○ Support groups
Slide 12: Conclusion
● Psychiatric disorders are common in the elderly.
● Early recognition and treatment are essential.
● A multidisciplinary approach is often needed.
● Continued research and education are crucial for improving mental health care for
older adults.
Slide 13: Questions?
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● https://www.avantgynecology.com/2019/06/25/mental-health-issues-that-women-face/
