Pharmacotherapy can improve the quality of life for older adults with psychiatric problems. Yet prescribing is typically complicated by the affects of normal aging, challenges in diagnosis and more. From the editor of the leading textbook on geriatric pharmacology, this quick reference guide presents the vital information needed to develop and monitor safe, effective psychiatric regimens for older adults.

Pharmacotherapy can greatly improve the quality of life of older adults with psychiatric problems. Yet prescribing is typically complicated by the effects of normal aging, challenges in diagnosis, the presence of medical comorbidities, and the use of multiple medications. This quick-reference guide presents the vital information needed to develop and monitor safe, effective psychiatric regimens for older adults. From the editor of the leading textbook on geriatric psychopharmacology, the volume provides handy diagnostic pointers for assessing prevalent symptoms and disorders. It offers concise discussions of commonly used medications, summarizing their benefits and limitations for use with this population. Delineating tried-and-true guidelines to help enhance therapeutic effects while decreasing unwanted side effects, this book belongs at the right hand of all prescribers and caregivers working with older adults. The volume first provides overarching principles for evaluating older adults appropriately, understanding their concerns about medication, and maximizing treatment compliance. Salzman then moves chapter-by-chapter through frequently encountered clinical problems: depression, anxiety, sleep problems, failing memory, and agitation. Chapters describe the clinical presentation of each disorder and enumerate effective assessment strategies. Included are tips for distinguishing between different disorders and recognizing medical and psychiatric comorbidities. Medications used to treat each problem are then reviewed. Emphasizing a "start low, go slow" approach, the book offers practical advice on how to select the right medication, determine starting and maintenance dosages, and anticipate side effects that may be of particular concern to frail patients or those with chronic health conditions. Throughout the volume, case illustrations, tables, and bulleted lists present key information in a concise, accessible format. The appendix features invaluable tables that summarize recommended dosage ranges for all medications discussed and encapsulate potential drug interactions. Ideal for primary care physicians, nurses, and psychiatrists, this guide also belongs on the desks of fellows and residents in geriatric medicine and psychiatry, nursing home administrators, social workers, psychologists, and other medical, mental health, and social service professionals. While written for professionals, the book's clear, factual style will also make it accessible to many family members and older patients themselves.

Thoroughly updated for its Fourth Edition, this volume is the most authoritative clinical reference on the pharmacologic treatment of psychiatric disorders in elderly patients. This edition provides complete information on new psychotropic drugs, new uses for established drugs, and clinically relevant advances in the neurosciences. Four new chapters cover genes, pharmacokinetics, and their impact on prescribing; new cognitive-enhancing strategies and drugs; late-life depression and physical illness; and depression and cardiac disease in late life. The book offers detailed guidelines—including drug names, dosages, and prescribing recommendations—for pharmacologic treatment of specific disorders. Chapters include clinical vignettes and tables presenting current clinical trial data. Appendices provide succinct information on prescribing and drug interactions.

The guideline offers clear, concise, and actionable recommendation statements to help clinicians to incorporate recommendations into clinical practice, with the goal of improving quality of care. Each recommendation is given a rating that reflects the level of confidence that potential benefits of an intervention outweigh potential harms.

Preceded by Clinical manual of geriatric psychopharmacology / Sandra A. Jacobson, Ronald W. Pies, Ira R. Katz. 2007.

Many people consider stopping their psychiatric medications, but prescribers may not know how to do this in a collaborative, systematic way. This book describes the ins and outs of how clinicians can work closely with their patients to consider whether or not to try decreasing medications. It outlines the how and when, and gives recommendations on what the prescriber and patient may encounter along the way.

In the 7 years since the first edition of Clinical Manual of Geriatric Psychopharmacology was published, dozens of new drugs have been released, and older medications have been marketed in different formulations. In addition, research on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and mechanism of action, potential interactions, and other critical topics has proceeded apace, rendering much of the information in existing guides obsolete. This new volume is both comprehensive and completely up to date, offering information unavailable elsewhere. New drugs covered include asenapine, paliperidone, iloperidone, lurasidone, desvenlafaxine, vilazodone, long-acting trazodone, milnacipran, armodafinil, extended-release valproate, rotigotine transdermal, tetrabenazine, dextromethorphan, long-acting gabapentin, and transdermal buprenorphine. Each chapter has a standardized format, with topics including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and mechanism of action, drug interactions, clinical use (which addresses choice of drug, alternative formulations/routes, pre-treatment evaluation, dose and dose titration, PRN use, monitoring treatment, drug levels, managing treatment resistance, switching drugs, duration of treatment, discontinuation, and overdose), adverse effects, and treatment of selected syndromes and disorders. Dozens of tables, boxes, and figures organize and present complex material, such as practice guidelines, in a straightforward manner that is easy to understand and apply, and the concise, bulleted text facilitates reading and comprehension in the clinical setting. "Specific Drug Summaries" -- one-page summaries of prescribing information for individual drugs -- provide fast access to critical information in a simple format. Designed for residents, fellows, and all clinicians in psychiatry and medicine who diagnose and treat psychiatric and neuropsychiatric conditions affecting geriatric patients, this clinical reference can be used across all treatment settings (inpatient, outpatient, day hospital, consultation, and nursing home). Meticulously referenced and grounded in the latest research, Clinical Manual of Geriatric Psychopharmacology, Second Edition, is the definitive guide to psychotropic use in elderly patients. Clinicians can rely confidently on its up-to-date coverage and authoritative counsel.

Thoroughly updated for its Fourth Edition, this volume is the most authoritative clinical reference on the pharmacological treatment of psychiatric disorders in elderly patients.This edition provides complete information on new psychotropic drugs, new uses for established drugs, and clinically relevant advances in the neurosciences. Also, four new chapters cover genes, pharmacokinetics, and their impact on prescribing; new cognition enhancing strategies and drugs; late life depression and physical illness; and also depression and cardiac disease in late life.The book offers detailed guidelines including drug names, dosages, and prescribing recommendations for pharmacological treatment of specific disorders. Chapters include clinical vignettes and tables presenting current clinical trial data. Appendices provide succinct information on prescribing and drug interactions. succinct information on prescribing and drug interactions Chapters include clinical vignettes to reinforce relevance of information in daily practice NEW TO THIS EDITION: Four new chapters cover genes, pharmacokinetics, and their impact on prescribing; new cognitive-enhancing strategies and drugs; late-life depression and physical illness; and depression and cardiac disease in late life. Complete information on new psychotropic drugs, new uses for established drugs, and clinically relevant advances in the neurosciences

Illustrated with abundant clinical material, this book provides essential knowledge and skills for effective mental health practice with older adults. It demonstrates how to evaluate and treat frequently encountered clinical problems in this population, including dementias, mood and anxiety disorders, and paranoid symptoms. Strategies are presented for implementing psychosocial interventions and integrating them with medications. The book also describes insightful approaches for supporting family caregivers and addresses the nuts and bolts of consulting in institutional settings. Combining their expertise as a researcher and an experienced clinician, the authors offer a unique perspective on the challenges facing older adults and how to help them lead more fulfilling and independent lives. Three reproducible forms can also be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size.