Specific Population Groups Flashcards
Older Adults
What are the psychological challenges of elderly?
Body weights change
Metabolism slows.
Stomach do not absorb substances well enough.
Kidneys and livers don’t process fluids and toxins efficiently.
Proportionally less body water, so blood levels of a water-soluble drug can also be higher than would be expected.
T-F: there should be a strict discipline towards medication among older adults.
TRUE
Physiological challenges in Post-Menopausal Women:
Fatty tissue increases, which can raise the concentrations of certain drugs.
What are the other challenges among older adults?
Elderly generally take more medications, and tend to self-medicate with over the counter drugs and herbal supplements (increases the possibility of drug interactions).
If the person is being treated for certain physical disorders, it is essential that:
treatment should not be segregated from the psychiatric help.
What is the most significant to older adults when it comes to mood disorders?
Their capacity to experience pleasure.
The more herbal supplements you take:
The more drug interactions happens.
Medicating psychiatric concerns should be approached with:
reasonable caution
T-F: starting dose should be at least 50% of that typically employ in younger, psychiatrically-disordered individuals.
TRUE
Can cause drowsiness, confusion, prolonged sedation, memory loss, or even fractures.
Benzodiazepines
T-F: Not all antidepressants except cyclics are applicable.
False (all antidepressants)
What mg is the safe option in taking trazadone for sleep problems?
50 mg
What is preferred for psychosis?
Second-generation antipsychotics
Y-N in treating elderly psychiatric patients: Should we watch for signs of noncompliance?
Yes
Y-N in treating elderly psychiatric patients: understand that advancing age is often accompanied by less patience.
Yes
