Book contents
- Seminars in Clinical Psychopharmacology
- College Seminars Series
- Seminars in Clinical Psychopharmacology
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Editor’s Note on Nomenclature
- Neuroscience-Based Nomenclature Glossary
- Abbreviations
- Part 1 Basic Science and General Principles
- Part 2 Psychopharmacology of the Main Psychotropic Drug Groups
- Part 3 Specific Therapeutic Areas
- Chapter 17 Psychotropic Drug Treatment in Childhood and Adolescence
- Chapter 18 Psychotropic Drug Treatment in Later Life
- Chapter 19 Psychotropic Prescribing in Pregnancy and Lactation
- Chapter 20 The Clinical Management of Acute Disturbance Including Rapid Tranquillisation
- Chapter 21 Antipsychotics, Weight Gain and Metabolic Risk
- Index
- References
Chapter 18 - Psychotropic Drug Treatment in Later Life
from Part 3 - Specific Therapeutic Areas
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 May 2020
- Seminars in Clinical Psychopharmacology
- College Seminars Series
- Seminars in Clinical Psychopharmacology
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Editor’s Note on Nomenclature
- Neuroscience-Based Nomenclature Glossary
- Abbreviations
- Part 1 Basic Science and General Principles
- Part 2 Psychopharmacology of the Main Psychotropic Drug Groups
- Part 3 Specific Therapeutic Areas
- Chapter 17 Psychotropic Drug Treatment in Childhood and Adolescence
- Chapter 18 Psychotropic Drug Treatment in Later Life
- Chapter 19 Psychotropic Prescribing in Pregnancy and Lactation
- Chapter 20 The Clinical Management of Acute Disturbance Including Rapid Tranquillisation
- Chapter 21 Antipsychotics, Weight Gain and Metabolic Risk
- Index
- References
Summary
In this chapter, important issues which may be encountered when prescribing medications to older adults will be discussed. It must be remembered that medication is only one of several valuable approaches in treating psychiatric disorders in the elderly and it is often necessary to integrate expertise in drug prescribing with psychotherapy and social interventions, although discussion of these is beyond the scope of this review. The first part of the chapter reviews population demographics in relation to older age psychiatry and the fact that the evidence base for using many psychiatric medications in older people is more meagre than in younger adults. This is followed by a review of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic changes seen in older adults, which can impact on prescribing.
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- Seminars in Clinical Psychopharmacology , pp. 543 - 576Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2020