Psychosocial Aspect Of Older Adults Flashcards
Mental health risks in nursing homes
Abuse, neglect, involuntary seclusion, somatic disease, psychiatric comorbidities, cognitive decline, poly pharmacy, extrapyramidal symptoms, adverse side effects of psychotropics
Extrapyramidal symptoms
Movement dysfunction such as dystonia, tardive dyskinesia, bradykinesia, tremors, rigidity, akathisia (feeling restless, need to move), parkinsonism
Consequences of inattention to mental health
Physical: somatic and health challenges, cog decline, polypharm and adverse side effects of medication, accelerated molecular brain aging, decreased physical function
Social/emotional: psychiatric comorbidity, barriers to accessing health care, stigma and discrimination, financial difficulties/decreased income
Depression statistics
17% of US population, 50% of older adults, more women
Reactive depression
Neurotic or exogenous depression, linked to significant life event
-loss of spouse
-loss of (I)
-new dx
Psychotic depression
Endogenous or unipolar depression, associated with previous experiences at a younger age, frequent h/o psychiatric illness, signs of institutionalism, frequently misdx as dementia
Paraphrenia
Delusions of persecutions with auditory hallucinations, preoccupied, suspicious, aggressive behaviors
Geriatric depression
Men experience different sx (memory complaints), older men have the highest suicide rates
Geriatric depression leads to:
Increased ED/dr visits
Use more medication
More outpatient charges
Increase LOS in hospitals
Life satisfaction
Self-evaluation of one’s life as a whole, influenced by socioeconomic, health, environmental
Decreased life satisfaction = increase risk of risky behaviors (smoking, drinking, inactivity), increased risk of obesit
Frequent mental distress effects
Interferes with eating well
Maintain home
Ability to work
Sustaining relationships
Inactivity which leads to poor health
Risk factors for late onset depression
Widowhood
Physical illness
Low educational attainment (less than hs)
Impaired functional status
Heavy alcohol consumption
Anxiety
Uncontrolled feelings of panic, fear, and apprehension, obsessive thoughts, reactions that are disproportional, restlessness, trouble with memory and focus, insomnia, nightmares, refusal to engage in activities, ritualistic behaviors
Underdx in older adults
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Most common, constant worrying about many things, fearing worst in every situation, feeling a lack of control over emotions
More prevalent in those who experienced divorce, separation, loss of spouse
Social anxiety disorder
Extreme nervousness and self consciousness in everyday scenarios involving others
Marked by:
Fear of judgement
Avoidance of social situations
Difficulty making friends
Phobia
Avoidance of specific situations or objects due to an extreme fear of something that poses a perceived threat
OCD
Experiencing unwanted recurring thoughts and obsessions
Schizophrenia
Increase risk of dementia, prevalence expected to double
Symptoms different in older adults: fewer active positive symptoms (hallucinations/delusions), more passive symptoms (lack of initiative/interest, severe cognition, decreased memory/recall and naming abilities)
Alzheimer vs Schizophrenia
Alzheimer delusions are persecutory, theft, incidental VS schizophrenia delusions are persecutory and though control
Alzheimer hallucinations are more visual VS schizophrenia hallucinations auditory more commin
Alzheimer’s presents with flattened affect, avolition, apathy, poverty of speech/thought VS schizophrenia presents with disengagement and apathy
Alzheimer family h/o =alzheimer’s d/s VS schizophrenia family h/o = major
Mental illness
Alzheimer’s trajectory is progressive declining with aging VS schizophrenia trajectory fluctuates
BIPOLAR D/O
Often mistake with anxiety/depression
late onset bipolar d/o (LOBD) = older adults experiencing manic episode
Early onset Bipolar d/o (EOBD) = older adults with ling standing clinical h/o bipolar d/o
No difference in mortality between the 2
Clinical features of late onset Bipolar D/o
Increased premorbid psychosocial fxn
More affective episodes
Less severe psychopathy
Cognitive impairment
Mood reactivity
Increased appetite/weight gain
Extrapyramidal symptoms
Increased episode duration or chronicity increases with age at onset, hypersomnia
leaden paralysis
decreased mental flexibility
Increased rates of alcohol d/o, GAD and panic disorder
Sensitivity to interpersonal rejection
Increased risk of suidied
CVA 2x more likely
Increased prevalence of mixed eoisodes
Decreased psychomotor speed, selective attention, visual memory, verbal fluency, executive functioning, psychosocial fxb
Dx associated with LOBD (late onset bipolar d/o)
TBI, epilepsy, brain tumor, encephalitis, cerebral infarctions
Common factors leading to suicide in older adults
Older adults plan suicide more carefully with more lethal methods
Loss of self-sufficiency and (I)
Cognitive impairment
Chronic illness/pain
Decreased QOL
Financial troubles 2/2 financial stressors
Grief & bereavement over the loss of loved ones
Warnings of suicide
1)Loss of interest that were previously enjoyable
2) giving away prized possessions/changes will
3) lack of concern for personal safety
4) preoccupation with death or discussion of death
5) neglecting self-care, medical regimens, personal grooming
6) avoiding social activities and isolating themselves from others
Strategies to decrease risk of suicide in older adults
Restrict access to lethal means (firearms, prescriptive meds)
Increase protective factors: social networks, positive coping skills, access to mental healthcare, meaningful engagement in activities