Review article
Psychopharmacotherapy in Elderly
Dragica Kozarić
Dubravka Kocijan
Maja Bajs
Abstract
Application of drugs in older age requires
specific attention due to a series of physiological changes
connected with ageing, frequent comorbidity and increased
susceptibility to adverse reactions to drugs. The most important
goals of pharmacotherapy in elderly people with mental
disorders are the improvement of their quality of life and postponing
the inability for independent life. The basic principles
include individual dosage, careful drug titration at the beginning
and ceasing of therapy, as well as the continuous followup
of drug efficacy and potential adverse events. Elderly people
often take several medications for various disorders, what
increases the risk of drug interaction. A substantial part of
rational pharmacotherapy is also the estimation of compliance.
Clinical studies specifically dealing with treatment of
elderly persons with mental disorders, have not been frequent
up to now, mostly due to ethical reasons. Thus, the data on
the drug efficacy, characteristics of action and side effects
are sometimes limited. Having in mind the increase of elderly
people in general population, there is a growing interest as
well as need for evidence-based knowledge how to treat elderly
patients with mental disorders.
Keywords
psychofarmacological treatment; elderly
Hrčak ID:
20025
URI
Publication date:
25.9.2002.
Visits: 3.752 *