Deprescribing psychotropic drugs in a geriatric psychiatry outpatient clinic

Objective: To describe the psychotropic drug deprescription process in older patients of a geriatric psychiatry outpatient clinic. Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental study of people aged ≥ 60 years who were treated at Hospital São Lucas' Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic, which is affiliated with Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Data on 150 older people were collected from March 2021 to August 2022 and were evaluated by the pharmacists. The inclusion criteria were age ≥ 60 years, being a patient of the hospital's Geriatric Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic, use of at least one psychotropic drug, and agreeing to participate in the study. Those unable to report their medications and those who only came to the first appointment were excluded. Results: Overall, deprescription of at least one psychotropic drug was indicated in 61.3% (n = 92) of the participants, and it was effectively implemented in 68.5% (n = 63) of this group. Deprescribing, which was more frequent in the youngest age group (60­69 years) (p = 0.049), was indicated for 37.4% (n = 136) of psychotropic drugs, 67.6% (n = 92) of which were effectively deprescribed. The main classes indicated for deprescription were hypnotics and sedatives (90.0%; n = 18) and anxiolytics (73.3%; n = 11). Conclusions: At least 1 psychotropic drug was indicated for deprescription in the majority of the patients, and in most cases it was effectively implemented. One-third of the prescribed psychotropic drugs were indicated for deprescription, and more than half were successfully deprescribed. (AU)

Attitudes towards deprescribing in geriatric psychiatry: A survey among older psychiatric outpatients.

Understanding the patient perspective is a significant part of the deprescribing process. This study aimed to explore the attitudes of older patients with psychiatric disorders towards deprescribing. A total of 72 of psychiatric outpatients (68% women; median age 76 years) completed the validated Danish version of the revised Patients' Attitudes Towards Deprescribing (rPATD) questionnaire. Patients used a median of eight medications (interquartile range 6-12), with 88%, 49% and 24% using antidepressants, antipsychotics and anxiolytics, respectively. Fifty-one percent of patients reported an intrinsic desire to stop one of their medications, while 92% would be willing to stop one on their physician's advice. Seventy-five percent of patients would be worried about missing out on future benefits following deprescribing and 37% had previous bad deprescribing experiences. Use of ≥8 regular medications was associated with more concerns about stopping medication and greater perceived burden of using medication, while use of antipsychotics was not associated with any differences in rPATD factor scores. It is crucial for health care professionals to be aware of patients' specific concerns and past experiences to promote a patient-centred deprescribing approach that takes into account the needs and preferences of older patients with psychiatric disorders.

Geriatric Psychiatrists' Perspectives on Palliative Care: Results From A National Survey.

OBJECTIVES: Older adults with psychiatric illnesses often have medical comorbidities that require symptom management and impact prognosis. Geriatric psychiatrists are uniquely positioned to meet the palliative care needs of such patients. This study aims to characterize palliative care needs of geriatric psychiatry patients and utilization of primary palliative care skills and subspecialty referral among geriatric psychiatrists. METHODS: National, cross-sectional survey study of geriatrics psychiatrists in the United States. RESULTS: Respondents (n = 397) reported high palliative care needs among their patients (46-73% of patients). Respondents reported using all domains of palliative care in their clinical practice with varied comfort. In multivariate modeling, only frequency of skill use predicted comfort with skills. Respondents identified that a third of patients would benefit from referral to specialty palliative care. CONCLUSIONS: Geriatric psychiatrists identify high palliative care needs in their patients. They meet these needs by utilizing primary palliative care skills and when available referral to subspecialty palliative care.

Three-Year Prognosis of Late-Life Depression in an Outpatient Geriatric Psychiatry Clinic: Medical Comorbidities Worsen Outcomes.

Depression is one of the most important reasons for psychiatric referrals in elderly patients. Geriatric depression can be chronic and is associated with an increased risk of dementia. We aimed to determine the prognosis of major depression patients and associated risk factors regarding persistence of depression. Patients who were admitted to the tertiary geriatric psychiatric outpatient unit of Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul between January and December 2018 and were diagnosed with major depression according to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria were included in the study. A structured telephone interview was conducted with between February-April 2022. For detailed clinical evaluation, Turkish version of Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5-Disorders/Clinician Version (SCID-5/CV-TR), Telephone Cognitive Screen (T-cogS-TR), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR), Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used. Of the 123 patients interviewed, 40.9% were diagnosed with major depression and 14.6% with minor depression. 43.4% showed significant anxiety and depression symptoms. Dementia developed in 14.6% of the patients. Only 29.5% of the patients recovered completely. Hypertension, orthopedic disease or arthritis, cancer, and absence of prior work experience were found to be predictors of current depression diagnosis. Geriatric depression has an unfavorable prognosis despite continued antidepressant treatment and may even serve as a prodrome for future dementia. Timely management of co-morbid medical conditions such as hypertension can potentially improve the prognosis of geriatric depression.

Phase Angle as a Prognostic Indicator of Survival in Institutionalized Psychogeriatric Patients.

Phase angle (PhA) has been evidenced to be a useful survival indicator and predictor of morbi-mortality in different pathologies, but not in psychogeriatric patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of PhA as a prognostic indicator of survival in a group of institutionalized psychogeriatric patients. A survival study was conducted on 157 patients (46.5% dementia, 43.9% schizophrenia). Functional impairment stage, frailty, dependence, malnutrition (MNA), comorbidity, polypharmacy, BMI, and waist circumference were registered. Body composition was analyzed using a 50-kHz whole-body BIA; PhA was recorded. The association between mortality and standardized-PhA was evaluated through univariate and multivariate Cox regression models and ROC-curve. The risk of death decreased when Z-PhA, BMI, and MNA were higher. Mortality increases with age, frailty, and dependence. The risk of death was statistically significantly lower (56.5%) in patients with schizophrenia vs. dementia (89%). The Z-PhA cut-off point was -0.81 (Sensitivity:0.75; Specificity:0.60). Mortality risk was multiplied by 1.09 in subjects with a Z-PhA < -0.81, regardless of age, presence of dementia, and BMI. PhA presented a remarkable clinical utility as an independent indicator of survival in psychogeriatric patients. Moreover, it could be useful to detect disease-related malnutrition and to identify subjects eligible for an early clinical approach.

Medication-related problems in geriatric psychiatry-a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Information on medication-related problems (MRPs) in elderly psychiatric patients is scarce. In the present study, we analyzed the frequency and characteristics of MRPs in patients ≥60 years treated on the gerontopsychiatric ward of Hannover Medical School in 2019. METHODS: Taking advantage of an interdisciplinary approach, two independent investigators screened hospital discharge letters of 230 psychiatric inpatients for clinically relevant MRPs, followed by validation through an interdisciplinary expert panel. Drug interactions as a subset of MRPs were analyzed with the aid of two different drug interaction programs. RESULTS: 230 patients (63.0% female, mean age 73.7 ± 8.4 years, median length of stay 18 days) were prescribed a median of 6 drugs. In total, 2180 MRPs were detected in the study population and 94.3% of the patients exhibited at least one MRP. Patients displayed a median of 7 MRPs (interquartile range 3-15). Pharmacodynamic interactions accounted for almost half of all MRPs (48.1%; 1048/2180). The number of drugs prescribed and the number of MRPs per patient showed a strong linear relationship (adjusted R2  = 0.747). CONCLUSION: An exceedingly high proportion of elderly psychiatric inpatients displayed clinically relevant MRPs in the present study, which may be explained by the multimorbidity prevalent in the study population and the associated polypharmacy. The number of drug interactions was largely in accordance with previous studies. As a novel finding, we detected that a considerable proportion of elderly psychiatric inpatients were affected by potential prescribing omissions, potentially inappropriate duplicate prescriptions, and insufficient documentation.

El rol del propósito en la vida y el apoyo social percibido ante el miedo a la muerte en el contexto de la pandemia por COVID-19 en adultos mayores de CABA / The role of purpose in life and perceived social support in the face of fear of death in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in older adults from CABA

Las últimas décadas favorecieron el proceso de transición demográfica. No obstante, la extensión de los años por vivir no siempre resultó acompañada por mejoras en la calidad de vida. A este respecto, desde la psicogerontología se ha priorizado el estudio de las variables salutogénicas. Tal es el caso del propósito en la vida y del apoyo social percibido, así como dela relación que ambos mantienen con el miedo a la muerte. Temas que cobran mayor relevancia en un contexto de pandemia. El presente trabajo se propone analizar la relación entre dichas variables en una muestra de 103 adultos mayores de CABA, de ambos sexos (Hombres=24,3%; Mujeres=75,7%), con edades entre60 y 83 años, a partir de un diseño cuantitativo-correlacional. Entre los principales resultados, se observan relaciones positivas de fuerte significatividad entre el propósito y el apoyo social y entre el miedo a la muerte y el miedo al COVID-19 AU

The last decades favored the process of demographic transition. However, the extension of the years to live was not always accompanied by improvements in the quality of life. In this regard, psychogerontology has prioritized the study of salutogenic variables. Such is the case of purpose in life and perceived social support, as well as the relationship that both maintain with the fear of death. Topics that become more relevant in a pandemic context. This paper aims to analyze the relationship between these variables in a sample of 103 older adults from CABA, of both sexes (Men=24.3%; Women=75.7%), aged between 60 and 83 years, from of a quantitative-correlational design. Among the main results, highly significant positive relationships are observed between purpose and social support and between fear of death and fear of COVID-19 AU

Clinical pharmacist interventions in ambulatory psychogeriatric patients with excessive polypharmacy.

Psychogeriatric primary care patients are frequently treated with excessive polypharmacy (≥ 10 medications), leading to complications and increased costs. Such cases are rarely included in treatment guidelines and randomized controlled trials. This paper evaluates the impact of clinical pharmacist medication reviews on the quality of pharmacotherapy in primary care psychogeriatric patients with excessive polypharmacy. The retrospective observational multicentric pre-post study included patients (aged 65 or above) treated with at least one psychotropic and ten or more medications. Clinical pharmacists' recommendations were retrieved from medication review forms for the period 2012⁠-⁠2014. The study outcome measures were the number of medications, potentially inappropriate medications in the elderly (PIMs), potential drug-drug interactions which should be avoided (pXDDIs), and adherence to treatment guidelines. The study included 246 patients receiving 3294 medications, of which 14.6% were psychotropics. The clinical pharmacists proposed 374 interventions in psychopharmacotherapy. The general practitioners accepted 45.2% of them (169). Accepting clinical pharmacist recommendations reduced the total number of medications by 7.5% from 13.4 to 12.4 per patient (p < 0.05), the total number of prescribed PIMs by 21.8% from 312 to 244 (p < 0.05), the number of pXDDIs by 54.9% from 71 to 31 (p < 0.05) and also improved treatment guidelines adherence for antidepressants and antipsychotics (p < 0.05). Clinical pharmacist interventions significantly improved the quality of psychopharmacotherapy by reducing the total number of medications, PIMs, and pXDDIs. Accepting clinical pharmacist interventions led to better treatment guidelines adherence.

Impact of standardizing care for agitation in dementia using an integrated care pathway on an inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effectiveness of an integrated care pathway (ICP), including a medication algorithm, to treat agitation associated with dementia. DESIGN: Analyses of data (both prospective and retrospective) collected during routine clinical care. SETTING: Geriatric Psychiatry Inpatient Unit. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with agitation associated with dementia (n = 28) who were treated as part of the implementation of the ICP and those who received treatment-as-usual (TAU) (n = 28) on the same inpatient unit before the implementation of the ICP. Two control groups of patients without dementia treated on the same unit contemporaneously to the TAU (n = 17) and ICP groups (n = 36) were included to account for any secular trends. INTERVENTION: ICP. MEASUREMENTS: Cohen Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI), Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPIQ), and assessment of motor symptoms were completed during the ICP implementation. Chart review was used to obtain length of inpatient stay and rates of psychotropic polypharmacy. RESULTS: Patients in the ICP group experienced a reduction in their scores on the CMAI and NPIQ and no changes in motor symptoms. Compared to the TAU group, the ICP group had a higher chance of an earlier discharge from hospital, a lower rate of psychotropic polypharmacy, and a lower chance of having a fall during hospital stay. In contrast, these outcomes did not differ between the two control groups. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results suggest that an ICP can be used effectively to treat agitation associated with dementia in inpatients. A larger randomized study is needed to confirm these results.

Palliative Care Training for Geriatric Psychiatry Fellows: A National Survey Project.

OBJECTIVES: Palliative care is an essential part of the standard of care for individuals with serious medical illnesses. Integration of palliative care and mental health is important for elderly patients with medical and psychiatric comorbidities. Geriatric psychiatrists are natural stewards of palliative care-mental health integration, however this is contingent on palliative care training. Currently, palliative care training in geriatric psychiatry fellowship programs is uncharacterized. We surveyed geriatric psychiatry fellowship program directors in the United States to assess current palliative care training practices. METHODS: Web-based anonymous survey of geriatric psychiatry fellowship training directors RESULTS: Forty-six percent (28/61) of program directors responded. Seventy one percent (20/28) of programs provide didactics on palliative care. Seventy-seven percent (20/26) of programs provide clinical experiences in palliative care. Sixty-three percent (15/24) have formalized interactions between geriatric psychiatry and palliative care fellows. CONCLUSIONS: Palliative care training for geriatric psychiatry fellows is robust but unstandardized. Operationalizing palliative care training for geriatric psychiatrists may improve mental health integration into serious illness care.

Formación académica del psicólogo en la atención del adulto mayor: retos / Academic training of the psychologist for caregiving of elders: challenges / Formação acadêmica do psicólogo em cuidados deadulto idoso: desafios

El propósito de la presente investigación fue realizar una revisión bibliográfica sobrela formación académica del psicólogo en la atención del adulto mayor, en Venezuela. Su pertinencia radica en, aportar información innovadora en esta área, por lo poco explorado del tema en el país. De allí que, es importante considerar los conocimientos y experiencias que posee el psicólogo, acerca de esta área del ciclo vital, desde un enfoque académico. El acceso a nuevos conocimientos permitirágenerar programasla atención psicológica especializada para los adultos mayores, tanto institucionalizados como no institucionalizados; procurando no solo mejorar la calidad de vida del adulto mayor; sino abarcarlo desde lasmuchas áreas de su funcionamiento integral. Concluyendo, podemos señalar que, existe la imperiosa necesidad de formaracadémicamente al psicólogoVenezolano en esta área de la Psicogerontología; a su vez descartando creencias que consideran al psicólogo como uno de los profesionales que posee todo el conocimiento científico, para atender a esta población. (AU)

The purpose of this research paper was to carry out a bibliographical revision on the academic training of the psychologistfor the caregiving of elders, in Venezuela. Its relevance relays on providing innovating information in the area, for this subject has been little explored in this country. Therefore, it is important to consider all knowledge and experiences held by the professional psychologist on this stage of human development, from an academic perspective. The access to new knowledge will allow generating programs for appropriate psychological intervention directed to elders, whether these be institutionalized or non-institutionalized; aiming, not only to improve life quality of an old person, but also to address to it from the different areas of its overall functioning. To conclude, we can highlight that it actually exist the imperious need to train academically Venezuelan psychologist, as one of those professionals sufficiently competent with scientific knowledge to provide proper attention to this population.(AU)

O objetivo da presente investigação foi realizar uma revisão bibliográfica sobre a formação acadêmica do psicólogo no atendimento a idosos na Venezuela. Sua relevância está no fornecimento de informações inovadoras nessa área, devido ao pouco explorado da questão no país. Portanto, é importante considerar o conhecimento e as experiências que o psicólogo tem, sobre essa área do ciclo da vida, a partir de uma abordagem acadêmica. O acesso a novos conhecimentos permitirá que programas gerem atendimento psicológico especializado para idosos, institucionalizados e não institucionalizados; tentando não apenas melhorar a qualidade de vida dos idosos; mas cubra-o das muitas áreas de sua operação integral. Em conclusão, podemos destacar que há uma necessidade urgente de treinar academicamente o psicólogo venezuelano nessa área da psicogerontologia; por sua vez, descartando crenças que consideram o psicólogo um dos profissionais que possui todo o conhecimento científico, para atender a essa população.(AU)

Sarcopenia in geriatric psychiatry: feasibility of the diagnostic process and estimation of prevalence within a hospital context.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is an age-related progressive and general skeletal muscle disease associated with negative consequences such as falls, disability, and mortality. An early-stage diagnosis is important to enable adequate treatment, especially in geriatric psychiatry. However, there presently is little information about the feasibility of diagnostic procedures and the prevalence of sarcopenia in clinical geriatric psychiatry settings. The aim of this study is to implement a diagnostic process for sarcopenia in a geriatric psychiatry hospital, to investigate its feasibility and to analyse the prevalence rates. METHODS: A single-centre cross-sectional study over 3 months was conducted in a geriatric psychiatry hospital. All admitted patients with a diagnosis of dementia, depression, or delirium were screened regarding the clinical impression of frailty and sarcopenia according to the current diagnostic algorithm of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2). RESULTS: We found that short physical performance tests, such as the handgrip strength testing (91%) or 4 m walking test (91%), were applicable in our sample. The original standardized instructions of longer tests could not be performed appropriately, for example, in the five-times-sit-to-stand-test (32%), the timed-up-and-go-test (68%), and the 400 m walking test (38%). Muscle mass measurements using bioelectric impedance analysis were feasible in all patients (100%). The analysis revealed an estimated prevalence rate for sarcopenia of 65% for patients suffering from dementia and 36% for patients suffering from depression. In our final analysis, 15 patients suffering from dementia, 19 suffering from depression, and no patient suffering from delirium were included [22 female (64.7%) and twelve male (35.3%) patients]. The patients were on average 78.9 ± 7.7 years old, with the youngest patient being 61 years old and the oldest patient 93 years old. Out of the total sample, 14 patients suffering from dementia and eight patients suffering from depression were diagnosed with a severe stage of sarcopenia. CONCLUSIONS: The EWGSOP2 algorithm seems to be applicable in the clinical routine of a geriatric psychiatry hospital. The high estimated prevalence rates of sarcopenia highlight the need for an early and comprehensive screening for sarcopenia in geriatric psychiatry.

Clinical Profile and Length of Hospital Stay in a Sample of Psychogeriatric Patients Referred to Consultation Liaison Psychiatric Unit.

Background and objectives: There has been a recent increase in older patients admitted to general hospitals. A significant percentage of hospitalized older patients are ≥75 years old, which differ from the patients aged 65 to 74 years old in terms of functional status at patient discharge. This study aims to compare sociodemographic, clinical features, and factors associated with length of hospital stay in youngest-old and oldest-old populations of inpatients referred to the consultation liaison psychiatry unit. Material and methods: This is an observational, cross-sectional, retrospective, and comparative study. We obtained data from a sample of 1017 patients (≥65 years) admitted to a general hospital and referred from different services (medicine, surgery, etc.) to the consultation liaison psychiatry unit. The sample was divided into two groups of patients: youngest-old (65-74 years) and oldest-old (≥75 years). Psychiatric evaluations were performed while the patients were on wards at the hospital. Psychopharmacs were started as needed. A comparative analysis was carried out and predictive factors related to length of hospital stay were calculated. Results: The reference rate to consultation liaison psychiatry unit was 1.45% of the total older patients hospitalized. Our study demonstrates differences between the groups of older people: the oldest-old group were mainly female (p < 0.001), had more previous psychiatric diagnoses (p < 0.001), physical disabilities (p = 0.02), and neurocognitive disorders (p < 0.001), they used more antipsychotics (p < 0.001), and more frequently had a discharge disposition to a nursing home (p = 0.036). The presence of physical disability (beta = 0.07, p < 0.001) and logtime to referral to consultation liaison psychiatry unit (beta = 0.58, p < 0.001) were associated with increased length of hospital stay. Conclusions: Youngest-old and oldest-old people should be considered as two different types of patients when we consider clinical features. The time to referral to consultation liaison psychiatry unit seems to be a relevant factor associated with length of hospital stay.

Factores asociados a la ideación suicida y el dolor crónico en pacientes adultos mayores asistidos en un hospital general de la ciudad de Buenos Aires / Associated factors with suicidal ideation and chronic pain in elderly patients assisted in a general hospital of the city of Buenos Aires

Introducción: el siguiente estudio tuvo como finalidad explorar algunas características demográficas asociadas al dolor crónico y el desarrollo de ideas de suicidio en una población de pacientes mayores de 65 años. Método: se realizó un estudio observacional y analítico de corte transversal mediante el relevamiento de datos a partir historias clínicas de pacientes mayores de 65 años que concurrieron a los consultorios externos del equipo de geriatría del Servicio de Psiquiatría del Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, entre junio de 2018 y diciembre de 2018. Resultados: se incluyó en el estudio un total de 222 pacientes, de los cuales 50 (23%) presentaron indicadores de dolor crónico y 33 pacientes (14,6%) lo hicieron de ideación suicida. Mediante estudio de correlación se estableció que estar ocupado, padecer dolor crónico y haber tenido más de una internación psiquiátrica son factores que incrementan el riesgo de presentar ideación suicida. Las variables ideación suicida, edad, y el estado civil ‒separado o divorciado en comparación con estar casado‒ son factores asociados a la presencia de dolor crónico. Conclusiones: el dolor crónico y la ideación suicida son factores que contribuyen a aumentar la fragilidad en personas mayores y deben ser estudiados en mayor profundidad para comprender los distintos modos de expresión de la patología psiquiátrica en esta población. (AU)

Introduction: the following study aimed to explore some demographic characteristics associated with chronic pain and the development of suicidal ideas in a population of patients over 65 years. Method: an cross-sectional observational and analytical study was carried out by collecting data from clinical histories of patients over 65 years of age who attended the external offices of the geriatrics team of the Psychiatry service of the Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires between June 2018 and December 2018. Results: a total of 222 patients were included in the study, of which 50 (23%) presented indicators of chronic pain and 33 patients (14.6%) had suicidal ideation. A correlation study established that being employed, suffering from chronic pain and having had more than one psychiatric hospitalization are factors that increase the risk of presenting suicidal ideation. The variables suicidal ideation, age, and separated or divorced marital status compared to being married are factors associated with the presence of chronic pain. Conclusions: chronic pain and suicidal ideation are factors that contribute to increasing frailty in elderly patients and should be studied in greater depth to understand the different modes of expression of psychiatric pathology in this population. (AU)

A percepção dos profissionais de saúde sobre o cuidado ao idoso com transtorno mental / The perception of health professionals regarding the care for the elderly with mental disorders / La percepción de los profesionales de la salud sobre el cuidado al anciano con el trastorno mental

OBJETIVO: compreender as percepções da equipe de um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial sobre o cuidado ao idoso com transtorno mental. MÉTODO: estudo qualitativo com referencial teórico-metodológico: Teoria das Representações Sociais. O campo de estudo foi um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial no interior do estado de São Paulo. Amostra composta por conveniência, fechada por exaustão, constituída por 12 profissionais. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio da entrevista semiestruturada e estes foram analisados pela análise temática de conteúdo. RESULTADOS: emergiram três categorias que evidenciam contradições sobre a percepção dos profissionais acerca do papel do CAPS. Essas contradições podem estar ancoradas nas representações sobre as dificuldades relatadas na assistência ao idoso, que se sobrepõem às dificuldades no cuidado ao indivíduo com transtorno mental. A ausência de estratégias para o atendimento cotidiano é abordada e a educação profissional é apontada como importante, porém ausente. O desgaste do profissional em saúde mental emerge e a percepção sobre a falta de recursos humanos é revelada nos discursos. Essas problemáticas trazem uma representação de práticas insuficientes que refletirão no cuidado ao idoso com transtorno mental. CONCLUSÃO: o estudo contribui com esclarecimentos a serem abordados em estudos de intervenção para potencializar a transformação do cuidado.

OBJECTIVE: to understand the perceptions of the staff of a Psychosocial Care Center regarding the care for the elderly with mental disorders. METHOD: qualitative study with a theoretical and methodological framework: Theory of Social Representations. The field of study was a Psychosocial Care Center in the state of São Paulo. Convenience sampling was used, and the sample consisting of 12 professionals was determined by saturation. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews and analyzed by thematic content analysis. RESULTS: three categories emerged, and they showed contradictions regarding the professionals' perceptions of the CAPS' role. Such contradictions may be supported on the representations concerning the difficulties reported in the care for the elderly, which overlap with those in the care for individuals with mental disorders. The lack of strategies for routine care is discussed, and professional education is mentioned as important although it is non-existent. The burnout of mental health professionals emerges, and the perception of the lack of human resources is revealed in the discourses. These problems bring about a representation of insufficient practices that will reflect on the care for the elderly with mental disorders. CONCLUSION: the study contributes with clarifications to be addressed in intervention studies in order to strengthen heath care change.

OBJETIVO: comprender las percepciones del equipo de un Centro de Atención Psicosocial sobre el cuidado al anciano con trastorno mental. MÉTODO: estudio cualitativo con referencial teórico-metodológico: Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales. El campo de estudio fue un Centro de Atención Psicosocial en el interior del estado de São Paulo. Una muestra compuesta por conveniencia, cerrada por agotamiento, constituida por 12 profesionales. La recolección de datos fue realizada, a través de la entrevista semiestructurada y el análisis de los datos del análisis temático de contenido. RESULTADOS: surgieron tres categorías que evidencian contradicciones sobre la percepción de los profesionales acerca del papel del CAPS. Estas contradicciones pueden estar ancladas en las representaciones acerca de las dificultades relatadas en la asistencia al anciano que se superpone con dificultades en el cuidado al individuo con trastorno mental. La ausencia de estrategias para la atención cotidiana es abordada y la educación profesional es señalada como importante, pero ausente. El desgaste del profesional en salud mental emerge y la percepción sobre la falta de recursos humanos es revelada en los discursos. Estas problemáticas traen una representación de prácticas insuficientes que reflejará en el cuidado al anciano con trastorno mental. CONCLUSIÓN: el estudio contribuye con aclaraciones para ser abordados en estudios de intervención para potenciar la transformación del cuidado.

Economic Outcomes Following Combinatorial Pharmacogenomic Testing for Elderly Psychiatric Patients.

OBJECTIVE: We compared economic outcomes when elderly patients with neuropsychiatric disorders received psychotropic medications guided by a combinatorial pharmacogenomic (PGx) test. METHODS: This is a subanalysis of a 1-year prospective assessment of medication cost for patients with neuropsychiatric disorders receiving combinatorial PGx testing. Pharmacy claims were used to compare per member per year (PMPY) medication cost for patients ≥65 and <65 years old when medications were congruent or incongruent with the PGx test. Polypharmacy was also assessed. RESULTS: Congruent prescribing was associated with savings of US$3497 PMPY (P < .001) for patients ≥65 years and US$2467 PMPY (P < .001) for patients <65, compared to incongruent prescribing. Congruent prescribing in patients ≥65 treated by primary care providers was associated with US$4113 PMPY (P = .026) in savings, while congruent prescribing by psychiatrists was associated with US$120 PMPY (P = .719). Congruent prescribing was also associated with one fewer neuropsychiatric medication for patients ≥65 (P = .070). CONCLUSION: Congruence with PGx testing was associated with medication cost savings in elderly patients.

Interobserver analysis of safety practices and behaviors adopted by elderly people to prevent falls / Análise Interobservadores das práticas e comportamentos de segurança adotados pelos idosos institucionalizados para prevenir quedas / Análisis interobservadores de prácticas y comportamientos de seguridad adoptadas por ancianos institucionalizados para prevenir caídas

Objective: determine the psychometric properties of the safety practices and behaviors dimension of the Scale of Practices and Behaviors of Institutionalized Elderly People to Prevent Falls in a sample of elderly people with cognitive decline. Method: methodological study, with a quantitative approach, to assess the psychometric properties of the mentioned scale in a sample with 102 elderly people with cognitive decline who lived in two long-term care institutions for the public in this age group. Internal consistency evaluation was carried out by calculating the Cronbach's alpha coefficient; interobserver reliability was expressed by Cohen's kappa coefficient; and temporal stability, by obtaining Spearman correlation. Compliance with all ethical procedures was observed. Results: the dimension of safety practices and behaviors showed α = 0.895 for its 11 items. Seven out of the 11 items reached good to excellent agreement among the experts for interobserver reliability. Kappa index values indicated that the instrument is valid and reliable. Safety practices and behaviors were influenced by institutionalization time, being at least 85 years old, and gait skills. Conclusion: the results pointed out that the instrument has good reproducibility and is valid and reliable, which allows its use in clinical practice in elderly people with cognitive decline as well as in research.

Objetivo: determinar as propriedades psicométricas da dimensão das práticas e dos comportamentos de segurança da Escala de Práticas e Comportamentos dos Idosos Institucionalizados para Prevenir Quedas numa amostra de idosos com declínio cognitivo. Método: estudo metodológico, com abordagem quantitativa, para a avaliação das propriedades psicométricas da escala numa amostra de 102 idosos com declínio cognitivo, residentes em duas Instituições de Longa Permanência para Idosos. A avaliação da consistência interna foi efetuada pelo α de Cronbach, a confiabilidade interobservadores, calculada pelo coeficiente de concordância Kappa de Cohen e a estabilidade temporal, pela correlação de Spearman. Todos os procedimentos éticos foram contemplados no estudo. Resultados: a dimensão das práticas e dos comportamentos de segurança da escala apresentou um α=0,895 para os seus 11 itens. Na confiabilidade interobservador, 7 dos 11 itens obtiveram de boa a excelente concordância entre os juízes. Os valores do Índice Kappa evidenciam que o instrumento é válido e fidedigno. As práticas e os comportamentos de segurança são influenciados pelo tempo de institucionalização, idade superior a 85 anos e capacidade de marcha. Conclusão: os resultados indicam uma boa reprodutibilidade, o instrumento é válido e fidedigno, permitindo a utilização do instrumento na clínica em idosos com declínio cognitivo e na investigação.

Objetivo: determinar las propiedades psicométricas de la dimensión de prácticas y conductas de seguridad de la Escala de prácticas y comportamientos de los ancianos institucionalizados para prevenir las caídas, sobre una muestra de ancianos con deterioro cognitivo. Método: estudio metodológico de abordaje cuantitativo para evaluar las propiedades psicométricas de la escala sobre muestra de 102 ancianos con deterioro cognitivo, residentes en dos hogares para ancianos. Evaluación de consistencia interna verificada por α de Cronbach, confiabilidad interobservadores calculada por coeficiente de concordancia Kappa de Cohen, estabilidad temporal comprobada por correlación de Spearman. Fueron contemplados todos los procedimientos éticos. Resultados: la dimensión de prácticas y comportamientos de seguridad de la escala expresa α=0,895 para sus 11 ítems. En confiabilidad interobservadores, 7 de los 11 ítems obtienen buena o excelente concordancia entre los evaluadores. Los valores del índice Kappa evidencian que el instrumento es válido y fidedigno. Las prácticas de comportamiento de seguridad están influidas por el tiempo de institucionalización, edad superior a 85 años y capacidad de marcha. Conclusión: los resultados demuestran buena reproductividad, el instrumento es válido y confiable, pudiéndoselo utilizar en la clínica con ancianos con deterioro cognitivo y en la investigación.

Study design of the Routine Outcome Monitoring for Geriatric Psychiatry & Science (ROM-GPS) project; a cohort study of older patients with affective disorders referred for specialised geriatric mental health care.

BACKGROUND: Affective disorders, encompassing depressive-, anxiety-, and somatic symptom disorders, are the most prevalent mental disorders in later life. Treatment protocols and guidelines largely rely on evidence from RCTs conducted in younger age samples and ignore comorbidity between these disorders. Moreover, studies in geriatric psychiatry are often limited to the "younger old" and rarely include the most frail. Therefore, the effectiveness of treatment in routine clinical care for older patients and impact of ageing characteristics is largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of the Routine Outcome Monitoring for Geriatric Psychiatry & Science (ROM-GPS) - project is to examine the impact of ageing characteristics on the effectiveness of treatment for affective disorders in specialised geriatric mental health care. METHODS: ROM-GPS is a two-stage, multicentre project. In stage one, all patients aged ≥60 years referred to participating outpatient clinics for specialised geriatric mental health care will be routinely screened with a semi-structured psychiatric interview, the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and self-report symptom severity scales assessing depression, generalized anxiety, hypochondria, and alcohol use. Patients with a unipolar depressive, anxiety or somatic symptom disorder will be asked informed consent to participate in a second (research) stage to be extensively phenotyped at baseline and closely monitored during their first year of treatment with remission at one-year follow-up as the primary outcome parameter. In addition to a large test battery of potential confounders, specific attention is paid to cognitive functioning (including computerized tests with the Cogstate test battery as well as paper and pencil tests) and physical functioning (including multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and different frailty indicators). The study is designed as an ongoing project, enabling minor adaptations once a year (change of instruments). DISCUSSION: Although effectiveness studies using observational data can easily be biased, potential selection bias can be quantified and potentially corrected (e.g. by propensity scoring). Knowledge of age-related determinants of treatment effectiveness, may stimulate the development of new interventions. Moreover, studying late-life depressive, anxiety and somatic symptom disorders jointly enables data-driven studies for more optimal classification of these disorders in later life. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch Trial Register: NL6704 ( www.trialregister.nl ). Retrospectively registered on 2017-12-05.