geriatric psychiatry

Question 1

dementia vs pseudodementia

Answer 1

see pg 105

Question 2

elderly are very sensitive to side effects of antidepressant meds, particularly

Answer 2

anticholinergics

Question 3

age related effects of alcohol

Answer 3

decreased alcohol dehydrog can lead to higher BALs with fewer drinks as compared to younger adults

increased CNS sensitivity to alcohol

Question 4

psychiatric manifestations of dementia

Answer 4

mood disorders
aggression
psychosis (delusions, visual halluc)

Question 5

tx-nonpharm-for dementia’s psychiatric manifestations

Answer 5

music, art, exericse, pet therapy
strict daily schedules minimizing change
continual reorientation of pt
reduce stimuli (quiet environment)
surround pt w familiar objects

Question 6

pharm tx for dementia’s psychiatric manifestations

Answer 6

antipsychotics (limited effic and increased mortality)
anxiolytics (SSRI)
mood stabilizers

Question 7

sleep disturbances in elderly

Answer 7

difficulty sleeping
daytime drowsiness
daytime napping

Question 8

normal sleep changes in elderly

Answer 8

decreased REM latency, decreased total REM

increased amts of stage 1 and 2, decreased amts of 3 and 4

decreased sleep efficiency (freq nocturnal awakenings)

sleep cycle advances (earlier to bed, to rise)

Question 9

what sleep meds are safe in elderly

Answer 9

hydroxyzine, trazodone