First Aid: Geriatric Flashcards
What should be worked up if an elderly patient presents with memory loss or nonspecific physical complaints
Major depression
what is pseduodementia
apparent cognitive deficits in patients with major depression
difference between patients with major neurocognitive disorder and depressed patients
neurocogntiive: confabulate answers
depressed: will say don’t know
Perferred medication for pseduodementia? other medications
- TCA over SSRI: TCA fewer anticholinergic side effects
- Mirtazapine: given at bed time, due to sedation and increase appetite
Bereavement-associated depression
major depression that began with a concrete death or loss in patient’s life
when should normal grief resolve
within 6 months
age effect of alcohol
decrease alcohol dehydrogenase
most common psychiatric disorder in elderly is
major depression
do you have to treat hallucinations in elderly
nope, if it does not bother patient
pharmacologic treatment for dementia
antipsychotics
anxiolytics
Normal geriatric changes in sleep
- decrease REM latency and decrease total REM
- increase stage 1 and 2
- decrease stage 3 and 4
- decrease sleep efficiency and total
- earlier to bed earlier to rise
what causes restless leg movements
dopamine imbalance
medication choice for sleep
tazodone, watch out for orthostasis
when should restraints be used
last resort
