Old age psychiatry

ABSTRACTBackground: There are a number of models of patient and carer participation. Their usefulness and applicability to old age psychiatry is considered.Methods: Models of participation are reviewed and related to examples of participation initiatives drawn from the author's work in the context of the National Health Service in the United Kingdom.Results: Models of participation which emphasize collaboration and partnership are found to be useful. Simple interventions such as copying letters to patients and/or carers can lead to change in the balance of power between staff and patients/carers. Initiatives which draw on the experiences of patients and carers can facilitate organizational learning and development. Involving patients and carers in education offers a way to influence services and the staff working in them.Conclusion: Participation is better understood as a spectrum rather than a hierarchy. Old age psychiatry services would benefit from developing greater patient and carer participation at all levels.

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Mania in late life

Advances in Psychiatric Treatment ◽

10.1192/apt.bp.110.008300 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 17 (5) ◽

pp. 357-364

Author(s):

Felicity Richards ◽

Martin Curtice

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Old Age ◽

Specific Treatment ◽

Late Life ◽

Aging Population ◽

Age Group ◽

Treatment Algorithms ◽

Assessment And Treatment ◽

Old Age Psychiatry ◽

Older Populations

SummaryMania in late life is a serious disorder that demands specialist assessment and management. However, it is greatly under-researched, with only a paucity of studies specifically analysing older populations. The mainstay of the old age psychiatry workload will inevitably be concerned with assessing and managing dementia and depression, but the steady rise in the aging population with longer survival means that there will be an increase in absolute numbers of older people presenting with mania. There are no specific treatment algorithms available for mania in late life. This article reviews mania and hypomania in late life and concentrates on diagnosis, assessment and treatment, as well as on the management considerations associated with this important age group.

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Burnout: current knowledge and relevance to old age psychiatry

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry ◽

10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199808)13:8<520::aid-gps811>3.0.co;2-1 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 520-526 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Susan M. Benbow

Keyword(s):

Old Age ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Old Age Psychiatry

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Book Review: Clinical Guidelines in Old Age Psychiatry

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1046/j.1440-1614.2002.t01-9-01083d.x ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 36 (5) ◽

pp. 709-710

Author(s):

Simon Stafrace

Keyword(s):

Old Age ◽

Clinical Guidelines ◽

Old Age Psychiatry

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A new opportunity: three tales of training in liaison psychiatry of old age

Psychiatric Bulletin ◽

10.1192/pb.26.11.433 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 26 (11) ◽

pp. 433-435 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

John Holmes ◽

Jon Millard ◽

Susie Waddingham

Keyword(s):

General Hospital ◽

Old Age ◽

Psychiatric Comorbidity ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Specialist Training ◽

Liaison Psychiatry ◽

Adult Psychiatry ◽

Old Age Psychiatry ◽

Hospital Wards ◽

And Training

Liaison psychiatry has emerged as a sub-speciality within general adult psychiatry, with specific experience and training being required to develop the skills and knowledge to address comorbid physical and psychiatric symptoms and illness (House & Creed, 1993; Lloyd, 2001). Older people often present with significant physical and psychiatric comorbidity (Ames et al, 1994; Holmes & House, 2000) and most old age psychiatry services receive one-quarter to one-third of referrals from general hospital wards (Anderson & Philpott, 1991). Despite this, there are no specific requirements for training in liaison psychiatry for old age psychiatrists at any level. The experience gained in assessing and treating general hospital referrals during basic and higher specialist training is felt to be adequate (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1998).

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