Deep Learning and Geriatric Mental Health.

The goal of this overview is to help clinicians develop basic proficiency with the terminology of deep learning and understand its fundamentals and early applications. We describe what machine learning and deep learning represent and explain the underlying data science principles. We also review current promising applications and identify ethical issues that bear consideration. Deep Learning is a new type of machine learning that is remarkably good at finding patterns in data, and in some cases generating realistic new data. We provide insights into how deep learning works and discuss its relevance to geriatric psychiatry.

Review of Management Considerations for Excoriation Disorder in Older Adults.

Excoriation disorder (ED) is defined as compulsive skin picking that results in skin damage and emotional distress. Optimal management of ED includes individualized treatment plans consisting of psychotherapies, behavioral and pharmacologic interventions. Compared with younger populations, older adults are at increased risk for poor outcomes, such as infection and hospitalization, and require unique management considerations. Risk factors that contribute to disease burden include age-related changes to the skin and underlying medical and psychiatric comorbidities. A literature review was conducted on ED yielding limited evidence exclusive to older adults. The authors suggest a therapeutic approach to ED in older adults based on available evidence and experience from inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings. Finally, opportunities for future research are highlighted.