Topical issues in old age psychiatry

2005 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 103-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Foley ◽  
Aideen Freyne
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Geriatric Medicine ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Demographic Shift ◽  
Republic Of Ireland ◽  
Demographic Projections ◽  
Old Age Psychiatry ◽  
Ultimate Outcome ◽  
The Republic

AbstractWith advancements in medical science over past decades, our aging population has increased substantially. Census studies in 2001 showed that 429,100 of the population of the Republic of Ireland were aged 65yrs and older, making up 11.2% of the overall population. While the overall population of the Republic is expected to remain stable over the next ten years, the demographic projections for the elderly population is for significant growth: numbers of over 65yrs are expected to increase by nearly 108,000 people between 1996 - 2011, comprising over 14.1% of the overall population. In particular, our communities will contain a much higher proportion of octogenarians and nonagenarians: at present 21% of our over 65's are 80 yrs or older; by 2011, it is projected that this number will increase to 25%. In tandem, the prevalence of dementia will increase.In 2000, it was estimated that 31,000 people suffered with dementia in the Republic of Ireland, and this figure is expected to increase by 5000 cases per year between 2001-2011. The ultimate outcome of this demographic shift, will be higher demands on medical services for older people, especially geriatric medicine and old age psychiatry. This paper will focus on two particular aspects of management which will increasingly impact on the work of old age psychiatrists – medicolegal issues and management issues in dementia.

scholarly journals Physical illness associated with depression in the elderly in community based and hospital patients

1992 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 612-613
Author(s):  
Stephen Dover ◽  
Christopher McWilliam
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Psychiatric Illness ◽  
Geriatric Medicine ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Physical Illness ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Senior Registrar ◽  
Hospital Patients ◽  
Old Age Psychiatry ◽  
Registrar Training

The co-existence of physical and psychiatric illness in so much of the elderly population poses diagnostic and therapeutic problems for psychiatrists, geriatricians and general practitioners alike, with the presence of physical illness strongly influencing and sometimes limiting the options for treatment of the psychiatric illness. Recognition of this has resulted in the Section of Old Age Psychiatry of the Royal College of Psychiatrists recommending that senior registrar training in old age psychiatry should include a one month attachment to an approved geriatric medicine unit.

Geriatric Medicine and the Categorisation of Old Age; The Historical Linkage

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 483-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henning Kirk
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Geriatric Medicine ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Health Literature ◽  
Age Limits ◽  
British Health ◽  
Images Of Old Age

ABSTRACTGeriatric medicine became a part of medical science in the middle of the nineteenth century, more than haifa century before ‘geriatrics’ was named, and a century before it was established in British health care. It was born in Germany along with ancient theories that ageing was in itself a disease, but was increasingly influenced by new pathological and physiological knowledge on ageing and disease, and further developed during the great French clinical era of the latter part of that century. As part of the development of this particular branch of medical science, a gradual categorisation of old age took place, with much credit to the Belgian statistician Quetelet, who may be regarded as the inventor of the category ‘the elderly’ defined by age. The developing biomedical images of old age were given much space in encyclopaedias, dictionaries and popular health literature after 1870. Therefore, the defined existence of old-age limits must also have influenced the legislators responsible for the first national Acts on old- age pension, which now celebrate their centenary.

scholarly journals Reciprocal training in old age psychiatry and geriatric medicine in South Gwent

1992 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 421-422
Author(s):  
Karl Rice ◽  
Eamon Mulkerrin
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Royal College ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
Geriatric Medicine ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Psychiatric Training ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Old Age Psychiatry ◽  
Care Of Elderly

Skill in physical medicine is an often neglected area in psychiatric training. It is nonetheless very important, particularly in the care of the elderly. The need for reciprocal training in geriatric medicine and old age psychiatry was highlighted in Care of Elderly People with Mental Illness (1989), the Joint Report of the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Psychiatrists on services for the elderly and medical training. It recommends that, “Higher professional training for specialisation in the psychiatry of old age should include at least two months experience in geriatric medicine”, and suggests that this previously optional experience should become an obligatory part of specialist training. It indicates the alternative ways of gaining such experience: a short secondment, a weekly sessional commitment or a direct exchange of posts.

The North Dublin Old Age Psychiatry service — survey of patients referred in the first six months

1990 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margo M. Wrigley ◽  
Miriam A. Gannon
Keyword(s):  
Elderly People ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Government Policy ◽  
Community Setting ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
General Hospitals ◽  
Demographic Pressure ◽  
The North ◽  
Old Age Psychiatry ◽  
The Republic

AbstractIn Ireland, the demographic pressure of greater numbers of elderly people surviving longer with an attendant increase in the prevalence of dementia and depression compounded by the running down of old mental hospitals and the closure of smaller general hospitals has provoked debate on the need for Old Age Psychiatry (Psychogeriatric) Services.The first Old Age Psychiatry service in the Republic of Ireland started in North Dublin in January 1989. Detailed information on all referrals (173) assessed in the first six months of operation was collected and is presented. The findings are discussed in the context of the stated government policy of caring for the elderly within the community setting.

Is There a Need for Elderly Forensic Psychiatric Services?

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
I O Nnatu ◽  
F Mahomed ◽  
A Shah
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Old Age ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Mentally Disordered Offenders ◽  
Mentally Disordered ◽  
Court Diversion ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Old Age Psychiatry ◽  
Forensic Psychiatric ◽  
Developed Nations

The population of the elderly in most developed nations is on the increase. Furthermore, the prevalence of mental disorder amongst elderly offenders is high. The true extent of `elderly' crime is unknown because much of it goes undetected and unreported. This leads to a failure to detect mental illness in such offenders. Court diversion schemes may improve recognition of mental illness but these schemes usually tend to deal with the more severe crimes. This may result in an overestimation of the amount of serious crime committed by the elderly and a failure to detect mental illness amongst those who commit less serious crimes. Efforts to service this hidden morbidity call for multi-agency collaboration. Improved detection and reporting of crimes is essential if mental health difficulties in the elderly are not to go unnoticed. The needs of elderly mentally-disordered offenders are complex and fall within the expertise of old age and forensic psychiatry, without being adequately met by either one. Therefore, consideration should be given to the development of a tertiary specialist forensic old-age psychiatry service.

scholarly journals The interface between old age psychiatry and the law

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 271-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Murray ◽  
Robin Jacoby
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Psychiatric Care ◽  
Common Law ◽  
Civil Law ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Legal Aspects ◽  
Northern Irish ◽  
Care For The Elderly ◽  
Old Age Psychiatry ◽  
The Uk

This article aims to provide a practical overview concentrating on civil legal aspects of psychiatric care for the elderly. We limit ourselves to English law (which also has jurisdiction in Wales; Scottish and Northern Irish law may be similar, but not identical). Civil law can, in turn, be divided into statute law (legislation provided by Parliament) and common law (the UK, unlike some European countries, has a strong tradition of law based on previous rulings by judges).

scholarly journals 3. Old age psychiatry

1991 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-16
Author(s):  
Dawn Black ◽  
Elspeth Guthrie ◽  
David Jolley
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Old Age Psychiatry

The old age psychiatrist's role has been evocatively described as “physician to the soul of the elderly”. A more practical definition is psychiatrist to patients over the age of 65 with both functional and organic illnesses.

scholarly journals Old age psychiatry and geriatric medicine admissions and elderly suicide rates in England

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 502-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajit Shah
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
General Practitioner ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Geriatric Medicine ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Old Age Psychiatry ◽  
Elderly Suicide ◽  
Almost All

Almost all elderly suicide victims have mental illness, and up to 90% have depression (Shah and De, 1998). A significant number of elderly suicide victims in Western countries consult their general practitioner or psychiatrist or contact mental health services between one week and six months prior to the suicide (Catell, 1988; Conwell et al., 1990; 1991; Catell and Jolley, 1995; Vassilas and Morgan, 1993; 1994). This offers an opportunity for identification and treatment of the mental illness. Thus, the availability of appropriate healthcare services may be an important factor associated with elderly suicide rates.

The Role of Electroconvulsive Therapy in the Treatment of Depressive Illness in Old Age

1989 ◽  
Vol 155 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan M. Benbow
Keyword(s):  
Old Age ◽  
Electroconvulsive Therapy ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Depressive Illness ◽  
Electrode Placement ◽  
Physical Problems ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Old Age Psychiatry ◽  
Temporary Memory

Electroconvulsive therapy is an important treatment in the depressive states of late life, and there is general agreement about the indications for its use in old age psychiatry. Indeed, old age may be associated with a better response to ECT than that in younger age groups. The additional risk involved through physical problems in the elderly is not great when compared with that of continuing depression and of the side-effects of alternative treatments. Temporary memory disorders and confusion may occur, but are minimised if unilateral electrode placement is used. Some patients treated with unilateral ECT do not respond, but will respond to bilateral treatment. Anxiety over unwanted treatment effects, which can lead to ineffective treatment of depressive illness, must be outweighed by knowledge of the dangers of leaving depression untreated in old age.

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