Reports in pharmacological treatments in geriatric psychiatry: is there anything new or just adding to old evidence?
OBJECTIVE
Dementia and depression are serious causes of global impairment in the elderly. This review is aimed at finding pharmacological reports from 2007-2008 so as to examine whether new guidance is available to treat these patients.


RESULTS
Studies on Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementias show that cholinesterase inhibitors are still first line treatment for these diseases and memantine is indicated in moderate/severe Alzheimer's disease, whereas there is as yet no standard available treatment for frontotemporal dementias. Treatment of depression in the elderly shows the same results as in younger individuals, and cerebrovascular pathology is important for treatment resistance.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need for new drugs that focus on treatment resistant and nonresponder individuals. Most studies are confirmation of previous reported results.
School of Medical Sciences, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Institute of Psychiatry, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. jlaks@centroin.com.br
Jerson
J
Laks
Eliasz
E
Engelhardt
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077265:Donepezil; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020961:Lewy Body Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007189:Indans; D010880:Piperidines; D000077265:Donepezil