Geriatric Psychiatry Flashcards
How are dementias designated?
Mild or major
How should medication be perscribed?
Always start low and go slow
What must be constantly differentiated in elderly patients?
Normal aging vs disease
What are the different categories of dementia?
Alzheimer’s
Vascular
Progressive disorders
Reversible dementia
What are the reversible causes of dementia?
Drug-induced (Benadryl, Tylenol PM)
Thyroid dx
Metabolic
Hematomas
Hydrocephalus (tx via VP-shunt)
What don’t you tx pts w/ dementia w/?
Anti-cholinergics
- Benadryl
- Hydroxyzine
D/t sedation!
What are the medications used to tx dementia? Are they curative?
Donepezil
Memantine
No, but they slow dx progression
What class of drugs has a black box warning for psychosis tx in demented geriatric pts? What were the risks?
SGAs/Atypicals
Aripiprazole C Olanzapine Quetiapine Risperidone Z
Inc mortality d/t heart-related events or infection
Depression trends how as one ages?
% affected increases, 40% of people over 85 have a depressive condition
What are causes of depression in the elderly population?
Deteriorating health
Cognitive decline
Loss of independence (car keys)
Loss of spouse and friends
What does anhedonia mean?
Loss of interest/fun in activities
What is Diphenhydramine? Should you give it to elderly pts?
Benadryl
No, can cause 5HT syndrome
How does one differentiate between depression and dementia?
Insight, depressed pts have it and demented pts don’t
What TCA was he fond of for elderly depression?
Nortriptyline
What does Mirtazapine do?
Increase appetite
