title: Geropsychiatric consultation in a university hospital: a report on 67 referrals.
abstract: The author describes the evaluation and treatment of 67 patients 60 years old or older who were referred to a consultation-liaison service in a university hospital. Age, sex, referring service, reasons for referral, psychiatric diagnosis, and interventions or recommendations were determined. Primary psychiatric diagnoses included depression (24%), dementia (19%), delirium (18%), schizophrenia (16%), and personality disorders (12%). Recommendations or interventions included advice in the use of psychotropic medications (61%), assistance with competency issues (25%), recommendation for further medical evaluation or treatment (36%), individual psychotherapy (28%), family therapy (25%), disposition planning (24%), and transfer to a geropsychiatry unit (12%). Hospitalized elderly patients with emotional problems represent a unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry; D006760:Hospitalization; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs