Geriatric Mental Health and COVID-19: An Eye-Opener to the Situation of the Arab Countries in the Middle East and North Africa Region.

While the detrimental ramifications of the COVID-19 outbreak on the mental wellbeing of the general public continue to unravel, older adults seem to be at high risk. As the geriatric population continues to grow in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, it is essential to explore the influence of this outbreak on geriatric mental health, a topic often neglected. In this review, we depict the status of geriatric psychiatry in the Arab countries of the MENA region, exploring the variations from one nation to another. While some have a null exposure to the field, resources and expertise in other countries range from very limited to extensive. Furthermore, we highlight the measures implemented in the Arab region to address mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak; these tend to be insufficient when targeting the geriatric population. Finally, we provide short- and long-term recommendations to stakeholders that aim at enhancing the mental healthcare of older adults in the Arab countries of the MENA region, particularly during this pandemic.

A Future Research Agenda for Digital Geriatric Mental Healthcare.

The proliferation of mobile, online, and remote monitoring technologies in digital geriatric mental health has the potential to lead to the next major breakthrough in mental health treatments. Unlike traditional mental health services, digital geriatric mental health has the benefit of serving a large number of older adults, and in many instances, does not rely on mental health clinics to offer real-time interventions. As technology increasingly becomes essential in the everyday lives of older adults with mental health conditions, these technologies will provide a fundamental service delivery strategy to support older adults' mental health recovery. Although ample research on digital geriatric mental health is available, fundamental gaps in the scientific literature still exist. To begin to address these gaps, we propose the following recommendations for a future research agenda: 1) additional proof-of-concept studies are needed; 2) integrating engineering principles in methodologically rigorous research may help science keep pace with technology; 3) studies are needed that identify implementation issues; 4) inclusivity of people with a lived experience of a mental health condition can offer valuable perspectives and new insights; and 5) formation of a workgroup specific for digital geriatric mental health to set standards and principles for research and practice. We propose prioritizing the advancement of digital geriatric mental health research in several areas that are of great public health significance, including 1) simultaneous and integrated treatment of physical health and mental health conditions; 2) effectiveness studies that explore diagnostics and treatment of social determinants of health such as "social isolation" and "loneliness;" and 3) tailoring the development and testing of innovative strategies to minority older adult populations.

Advice on How to Choose a Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship.

The population of older adults with mental health and substance use disorders in the United States is increasing at a significant rate. This growth creates a critical need for trained geriatric psychiatrists. Unfortunately, the number of psychiatrists choosing to receive subspecialty training in geriatric psychiatry has not kept pace with the growing needs of society. Many different methods for enhancing the recruitment of physicians interested in subspecialty training are being discussed nationally. One way to improve recruitment is to provide prospective residents a clear understanding of the process by which one may apply to and select a fellowship program. In this article, we discuss the process by which physicians interested in pursuing fellowship training in geriatric psychiatry can make an informed decision to apply to and choose programs that best fit their needs.

An integrated, collaborative healthcare model for the early diagnosis and management of dementia: Preliminary audit results from the first transdisciplinary service integrating family medicine and geriatric psychiatry services to the heart of patients' homes.

BACKGROUND: The number of dementia cases is expected to rise exponentially over the years in many parts of the world. Collaborative healthcare partnerships are envisaged as a solution to this problem. Primary care physicians form the vanguard of early detection of dementia and influence clinical care that these patients receive. However, evidence suggests that they will benefit from closer support from specialist services in dementia care. An interdisciplinary, collaborative memory clinic was established in 2012 as a collaborative effort between a large family medicine based service and a specialist geriatric psychiatry service in Singapore. It is the first service in the world that integrates a family medicine based service with geriatric psychiatry expertise in conjunction with community-based partnerships in an effort to provide holistic, integrated care right into the heart of patients' homes as well as training in dementia care for family medicine physicians. We describe our model of care and the preliminary findings of our audit on the results of this new model of care. METHODS: This was a retrospective audit done on the electronic medical records of all patients seen at the Memory Clinic in Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic from August 2013 to March 2016. The information collected included gender, referral source, patient trajectories, presence of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia and percentage of caregivers found to be in need of support. A detailed outline of the service workflow and processes were described. RESULTS: A majority (93.5%) of the patients had their memory problems managed at the memory clinic without escalation to other specialist services. 22.7% of patients presented with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. When initially assessed, a majority (82.2%) of patients' caregivers were found to be in need of support with 99.5% of such caregivers' needs addressed with memory clinic services. CONCLUSION: Our model of care has the potential to shape future dementia care in Singapore and other countries with a similar healthcare setting. Redesigning and evolving healthcare services to promote close collaboration between primary care practitioners and specialist services for dementia care can facilitate seamless delivery of care for the benefit of patients.

Subspecialty Training and Certification in Geriatric Psychiatry: A 25-Year Overview.

The Institute of Medicine estimated that by 2030, from 10.1 to 14.4 million Americans aged 65 years or older will have mental health or substance use disorders. This article reviews the history and current status of training, certification, and practice in geriatric psychiatry against the backdrop of this "silver tsunami." The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) administered the first subspecialty examination in geriatric psychiatry in 1991, and through 2015 3,329 certificates were awarded. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education approved the training requirements in 1993. After a surge in programs and fellows, the numbers appear to have stabilized at about 57 programs and 60-65 trainees per year with fewer than half of the positions filled each year. The majority of graduates seeks and obtains ABPN certification, and the majority of those who were fellowship trained have maintained certification. Despite the unprecedented demand for mental health services for older adults, it must be acknowledged that not enough geriatric psychiatrists can be prepared to meet the needs of an aging U.S. POPULATION: Strategies for addressing the shortage are discussed, including undertaking subspecialty training in the fourth year of psychiatry training, increasing the time devoted to the care of older adults in undergraduate and graduate medical education, and developing alternative training pathways such as mini-fellowships. It is not clear whether more favorable Medicare reimbursement rates for those certified in geriatric psychiatry would increase the numbers seeking fellowship training.

Among the elderly, many mental illnesses go undiagnosed.

Few health care providers have the training to address depression, anxiety, and other conditions in their older patients.

A team-based approach to the care of depression in later life: where are we now?

This article reviews briefly the historical genesis of collaborative and team-based models of care, including the results of projects that have been reported through the mid 2000s. A more comprehensive review of research and project outcomes published during the last 5 years on this model of care addressing either depression or depression with comorbid conditions follows.

[Epidemiology of psychiatric disorders in elderly and their impact on somatic health]. / Troubles psychiatriques du sujet âgé : données épidémiologiques et morbi-mortalité associée.

Increasing life expectancy over the past half century results in higher demand for healthcare of the aging population, therefore adapting the health system to the needs. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders is high in the elderly, especially for depression. Several studies have shown that twenty percent of elderly residents of public facilities meet the criteria for major depressive episode. Depression is a major burden in the elderly, with increased risk of suicide, impaired quality of life and functional autonomy, consequences on somatic morbidity and elevated mortality rates. It is thus necessary to find out how to improve physicians' abilities to detect and treat depression in older adults. Moreover, use of psychotropic drugs is frequent and increases the risk of injury in this population more vulnerable to drug effects. It is also necessary to develop specific gerontopsychiatric wards in large general hospitals and nursing homes.

A call for a new positive psychiatry of ageing.

We propose a new model for geriatric psychiatry to help meet the needs of a rapidly growing population of older adults. This positive old age psychiatry would focus on recovery, promotion of successful ageing, neuroplasticity, prevention, and interventions to enhance positive psychological traits such as resilience, social engagement and wisdom.