The Practitioner’s Guide to Psychoactive Drugs pp 319-339 | Cite as
Geriatric Psychopharmacology
Abstract
Older persons, representing more than 10% of the population in the United States, take all forms of medication more frequently than younger individuals . Estimates of psychotropic drug use in the aged range from 7% to 92% in institutional settings and up to 30% in medical settings. A greater incidence of polypharmacy accompanies increased utilization of drugs . A recent survey in general hospitals showed that older patients received an average of 5–12 medications per day. These statistics reflect many factors: a longer life span accompanied by a greater incidence of chronic illnesses; increased medical sophistication; and drug therapy as a substitute for nonbiological interventions.
Keywords
Orthostatic Hypotension Disruptive Behavior Psychotropic Drug Antipsychotic Medication Extrapyramidal SymptomPreview
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