Psychosis in the elderly

EBM Guidelines
Mar 17, 2021 • Latest change Sep 19, 2022
Tiina Talaslahti and Tuula Saarela

Table of contents

Extract

  • The psychotic illness, for example schizophrenia or delusional disorder, may already have started at a young age.
  • If the onset of schizophrenia is only in middle or old age, the term ’late-onset schizophrenia' or 'very-late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis’ is used.
  • Psychotic symptoms may occur in association with a number of organic and psychiatric conditions DynaMed PlusE.
    • Depression, mania and delirium
    • Metabolic and endocrinological disorders
    • Neurological diseases
      • Memory disease
      • CNS infections
    • Medication, poisonings and drug overdose
  • When antipsychotic medication is started, the lowest possible effective dose should be sought in order to avoid adverse effects.

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Aged, Antipsychotic Agents, Delirium, Delusion, Dementia, Depression, Elderly, F22.0, F23.3, F29, Geriatrics, Haloperidol, Paranoid Disorders, Paranoid Personality Disorder, Psychiatry, Psychosis, Risperidone, Schizophrenia