Prior to the 1950s, services focused on care during old age were almost non-existent. From 1958 onwards in the United Kingdom, there was a growing interest in the care of the elderly.
Today, the importance of psychogeriatrics is becoming increasingly important. This is due to the benefits and improved quality of life it brings to its patients in this age group where longevity is increasing.
What exactly is psychogeriatrics?
Also known as geriatric psychiatry. Psychogeriatrics is defined as the subspecialty of psychiatry responsible for the evaluation and treatment specifically focused on the mental health or mental disorders of older adults.
What are the characteristics of psychogeriatric patients?
In the past, psychogeriatric health professionals were responsible for caring for patients over 65 years of age.
However, nowadays, old age psychiatry care is oriented according to the patient’s needs and not according to age.
Patients who typically come for geriatric psychology care often have cognitive problems as well as mental health problems.
Especially at this age there is more risk or likelihood of developing complications related to comorbidities of other diseases. For example, consequences of type 2 diabetes mellitus or high blood pressure, among others.
Many health problems or conditions may have neurological sequelae that may benefit from psychogeriatrics.
Some of the criteria focused on the needs of psychogeriatrics are:
- Primary dementia. It does not depend on the age of the person but on the symptoms presented.
- Physical illness, mental disorder or frailty that increases the risk of complications of mental health treatment.
- Social or psychological difficulties that are associated with the aging process or end-of-life difficulties. The person’s opinion and needs are also important.
Common problems commonly encountered in psychogeriatrics:
- Depression or psychosis.
- Early-onset dementia.
- Patients with end-stage dementia.
- Frailty (decline in multiple systems, advanced age, reduced capacity, resilience, vulnerability to minor stressors).
Why is this specialty important within psychiatry?
Geriatric psychiatry is important primarily because it emphasizes all those psychological and biological aspects associated with normal aging.
In addition, it is oriented towards the psychiatric effect of both chronic and acute physical illnesses and other biological and psychosocial aspects associated with older adults.
Geriatric psychiatry analyzes the psychosocial aspects of the pathology of primary psychiatric disorders of old age.
This is important because it allows for much more personalized and specific care to improve the outcome of therapies and the understanding of the psychiatric disorder of the older adult.
This subspecialty provides a holistic and comprehensive approach to address all aspects of health that may affect the older adult.
What are the benefits to patients?
Older adults can benefit from elder psychiatrists because they can receive both evaluation, treatment and specialized continuing care for older adults.
Elderly psychiatrists are trained to understand age-related neurodegenerative processes. In addition, they have a working knowledge of general medicine with which they can provide both physical and psychiatric treatment tailored to the individual characteristics of the elderly person.
Psychogeriatric treatments can include a wide variety of options.
For example, medication at an appropriate dosage, talk therapy, combination therapy, among others.
The monitoring and supervision of medication carried out by psychogeriatrics is an especially important benefit.
This is because polypharmacy is high in the geriatric population and increases the risk of drug interactions with high risk of side effects or unwanted reactions.
Psychogeriatric professionals have a high level of pharmacological expertise, therefore, the risk of complications associated with the combination of drugs is lower.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy and talk therapies can also be provided by the same old age psychiatrist. However, if the psychiatrist considers it necessary, he/she can refer the patient to a clinical psychologist specialized in the required treatment.
Undoubtedly, the benefits perceived by the older adult with psychogeriatrics are much greater than the care of a general consultation.
Especially during old age, understanding and personalized attention are a fundamental way to improve the quality of life and enjoyment in this population.