Old Age Psychiatry

Question 1

What is the basic epidemiology of psychiatric disorders in old age?

Answer 1

Depression
Community 12%, hospital 29%
Dementia
Community 5%, hospital 31%

Question 2

What are some of the attitudes to aging?

Answer 2

X

Question 3

What is a dementia syndrome?

Answer 3

Clinical syndrome of:
Activities of daily living
Behavioural and psychiatric symptoms
Cognitive impairment eg one or mor elf dysphasia, dyspraxia, dysgnosia, dysexecutive functioning 
Deadline

Question 4

What are the commonest types of dementia?

Answer 4

Alzheimer 50%
Vascular 25%
Mixed alzheimer and vascular 15% 
Lewy body 5%
Other 5%

Question 5

What is a basic cognitive test?

Answer 5

X

Question 6

What are the common cognitive proformas?

Answer 6

Mini mental state examination

Montreal cognitive assessment

Question 7

What is a basic capacity test?

Answer 7

1) do they have an impairment of mind or brain

2) does this impairment mean they are unable to make a specific decision when they need to

Question 8

What are the common psychiatric disorders in old age?

Answer 8

Dementia
(Delirium)
Depression symptoms/illness
Anxiety disorders
Mania
Schizophrenia + like psychosis
Alcohol problems
Suicide

Question 9

What is the basic management of psychiatric disorders in the elderly?

Answer 9

Dementia
Mild to moderate - acetylecholinesterase inhibitors eg donepezil
Severe - memantine, antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics, hypnotics, anticonvulsants

Depression
Antidepressants, CBT, ECT for severe

Late onset schizophrenia
Admission, neuroleptics

Question 10

What is the organisation of old age psychiatry services?

Answer 10

X