title: [Addictions and aging].
abstract: The most frequent addictions observed in the elderly are alcoholism and therapeutic drug abuse, due to the psychic and physical vulnerability associated with age. First, the impact of aging to addiction is presented from epidemiologic data. Somatic and neuropsychiatric complications, interaction between addiction and mental illnesses, and therapeutic approach are detailed. In the second part, the psychopathological basis likely to support the addictive conduit occurring in old age is explored.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Psychogériatrie Sud Loire, Nantes. hélène.debrucq@ch-montbert.fr
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: De Brucq
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vital
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs