Chapter 11 - Challenges in the Therapy of Psychiatric Disorders in the Elderly

Summary

With the Decade of Healthy Ageing, the WHO has placed a focus on the care of old people. The paper focuses on four key issues that are important for better care of mental health problems in old age. First, behavioral disorders (BPSD) are common in dementia and are a cause of physical, psychological, and social complications. Their management plays a major role. The second article is about the field of neurostimulation, which has been rediscovered in recent years. ECT in particular is very well tolerated by older patients and also by physically ill patients. Other forms of neurostimulation are now being tested. The third article is dedicated to the aim of reducing irrational polypharmacy in old age, which not only contributes to cognitive deterioration but also to increased mortality and fall rates. A relatively new approach is the development of collaborative care structures involving clinical pharmacologists. The last contribution is dedicated to digitalization, which has many advantages, especially in the care of the elderly. The lack of (geriatric) psychiatric care can be partly compensated by the fact that the internet or internet-based help can reach every region (of the world).