Summary
The three major mental disorders of old age are the three “D’s”: depression, dementia, and delirium. While present-day treatment of depression leaves much to be desired, one does not feel powerless to treat the depressed elderly patient unless they are overwhelmed by serious illnesses or social disasters. Delirium, if recognized, can also be managed successfully. Often it is self-limited, even without specific treatment. It is dementia which remains the crucial challenge.
The treatment of dementia has been disappointing. Except for the possible modest benefits of antipsychotics, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety drugs for symptomatic control, little evidence supports the idea that some drugs specifically ameliorate the course.
Thus, as we approach the year 2000, we have no assurance that we possess the means either to prevent or to treat this most devastating mental illness of old age. Fortunately, this ignorance has been recognized. An energetic campaign is underway to remedy this situation.
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Hollister, L.E. (1985). Pharmacotherapy of Mental Disorders of Old Age. In: Gaitz, C.M., Samorajski, T. (eds) Aging 2000: Our Health Care Destiny. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5058-6_25
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5058-6_25
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