Organization of inpatient care for Geriatric Mental Health Care

SHIV GAUTAMMD(psych), DPM, FAMS

Sr.Professor, HOD & Supdt.

Psychiatric Centre Jaipur

Addl.Principal SMS Medical College Jaipur

Aging Physiology• Individuals become more dissimilar as they

grow.

• Abrupt decline in any system is always due to disease and not to normal aging.

• Normal aging can be attenuated by modification of risk factors.

• In the absence of disease decline in homeostatic reserve causes no symptoms and imposes few restrictions in activities of daily living regardless of age.

Aging Pathology

• Multiple Pathology– Cataracts, deafness, degenerative joint

diseases, like osteoarthritis or osteoporosis, varicose veins are all conditions which are likely to develop slowly and to progress.

– Cancer, pernicious anaemia, thyrotoxicosis, myxoedema common due to deterioration of immune mechanisms.

– Obesity, diabetes, depression and dementia frequently seen

Under reporting of illness

• Callous Attitude Towards Health

• Attitude of the Relatives

Barriers to Obtaining Proper History

• Mental Confusion• Deafness• Concentration• Co-operation• Idiosyncrasis

Neuro-Psychiatric Disorders

• Cerebrovascular Diseases

• Depressive and other Psychiatric Disorders

• Cognitive Impairment and Dementia

• Neurodegenerative Disorders

• Infections of the Central Nervous System, Sleep Disorders and Coma.

Laboratory Evaluation and Other Investigations

• Routine Haematological Tests -Complete Blood cell count Platelets count

Prothrombin time Serum Electrolytes

Blood glucose level Renal Panel

Hepatic Panel

Routine Diagnostic Tests -• Lipid Profile, Blood sugar fasting, Electrocardiogram,

Chest radiograph, • Optional – EEG, CT Scan, MRI

Facilities for an inpatients Geriatric Mental Health Care

• Entrance with ramp and wheel chair

• Adequate OPD space with waiting facilities

• Consultation chambers for mental health team (Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologist, Psychiatric Social worker)

• Nursing Station and Drug dispensing

• Inpatient wards with attendant facility

• Semi ICU• Lab investigations

facilities• Recreation room• Rehabilitation activities • Storage and

Documentation space

INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMCONSULTATION-LIASION

• Medical internist Gynaecologist

• Ophthalmologist Orthopaedician

• Physiotherapist Dietician

• Yoga trainer

Age related changes in the Central Nervous System

Gross brain atrophy Ventricular enlargement Selective regional neuronal loss Remodeling of dendrite, axons &

synapses Appearance of intraneuronal

lipofuschin Selective regional decrease in

neurotransmitter & neuropeptides.

Contd...........

Selective modification of neurotransmitter metabolism

Possible dysregulation of gaseous neurotransmitter metabolism

Glucocorticoid neurotoxicity Changes in receptors Changes in neurotrophinsChanges in signal transduction

…contd.

Impairment of calcium homeostasis Possible changes in cell cycle regulations

(eg, cyclins) Possible changes in extra cellular matrix

proteins (eg. Laminin, proteoglycans) Possible regional decline in cerebral blood

flow Possible regional decline in metabolic rate Appearance of senile plaque &

neurofibrillary tangle

PHARMACODYNAMICS AND AGING

Neurotransmitter Pharmacodynamic changes with aging

Dopaminergic system

Dopamine D2 receptor in the striatum

Cholinergic system

Choline acetyl transferase

Cholinergic cell numbers

Contd...........

Adrenargic system

cAMP production in response to beta-agonists

Beta – adrenoceptor number

Beta – receptor affinity

Alpha 2 – adrenoceptor responsiveness

Gabaminergic system

Psychomotor performance in response to benzodiazepines

? Post – synaptic receptor response to GABA.

Contd...........

PHARMACOKINTIC CHANGES WITH AGING

Points to remember before prescribing medication in elderly

Magnitude of effect (clinical response) = Pharmacodynamics x Pharmacokinetics x biological variance

In elderly medical complication of pharmacotherapy alone constitute a highly significant treatable health problem.

Adverse reaction to drugs of all types is seven times higher in those aged 70 to 79 years, than in those 20 to 29 years old.

Non compliance with therapy is a major problem for psychiatric patients, and this dilemma is exacerbated with age.

Age related health problems combines with physiological changes to increase the probability of adverse effect from medication which in turn increase the likelihood of non compliance.

Complexities of medication regimens are further complicated by communication difficulties arising from impaired hearing, cognitive impairment, language & cultural difficulties.

Psychopharmacological Treatment of Geriatric Disorders

The psychiatrist of an 87 year old patient suffering from

heart disease, arthritis and depression must ask a number

of questions to himself.

Q. What is the best treatment - Pharmacotherapy?

Psychotherapy? E.C.T.?

Q. If pharmacotherapy, what is the most appropriate drug?

Q. Balancing the adverse effect and efficacy. What is the

best dosage?

Q. How soon will the patient’s symptom decrease?

Q. If the drug is effective. How long will the treatment last?

Q. If the drug is ineffective how long should the wait before

changing the treatment?

GERIATRIC MANIA

Risk of Mania decline in late life, nonetheless mania

and hypomania affect 5-10% of psychiatric patients.Established mood stabilizers

Lithium salts

Valproate

Carbamazepine

Calcium channel blockers

E.C.T.

Putative Mood stabilizes"

L. Thyroxine

Phosphatidyl choline

Progesterone

Clozapine, Olanzapine Magnesium salt

Newer Anticonvulsants Lamotrigine, Gabapentin Topiramate, Tigabine

Omega 3 fatty acid

Antidepressants in old age depression

• Cumulative incidence of depression in people aged upto 70 years is 26.95% for men & 42.5% for women, still most of the drug trials exclude elderly subjects.

• In addition, most of the drug trials also exclude subjects with medical comorbidity, which is a rule rather than exception. Hence the results of drug trials done in young adults can't be generalized to elderly.

…Antidepressants in old age depression contd.

• Prior to 1995, there were occasional studies which evaluated the use of antidepressants in elderly. But fortunately in the last 10 years many studies have evaluated the use of antidepressants in the elderly.

• These studies can be broadly classified as:

• Noncomparative studies• comparative studies using either placebo or

another antidepressant or both and • meta-analyses of the above studies.

Antidepressant Drugs and Dosages Preferred for Use in the Elderly

Geriatric dosage(mg per day)

Side EffectsDrugs

Startingdosage

Maintenancedosage

Sedation Agitation Anticholinergiceffects

Orthostatichypotension

Tricyclic antidepressants

Desipramine 25 50 to 150 Low Low Low Low

Nortriptyline 10 to 25 40 to 75 Moderate Low Low

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibtiors

Citalopram 20 20 to 40 Low Low - -

Fluvoxamine 50 50 to 200 Low Low - -

Paroxetine 10 20 to 30 Low Low - -

Sertraline 25 to 50 50 to 150 Low Low - -

Miscellaneous

Bupropion 100 100 to 400 - Moderate - Low

Nefazodone 100 100 to 600 Moderate -- Low Low

Trazodone 25 to 50 50 to 300 High - Low Moderate

Venlafaxine 75 75 to 350 Low Low Low Low

Cardiovascular

Renal

Diabetes

Hepatic ?

Hematological

Thyroid

Arthritis

Infectious disorders

Metabolic

Disorders Lithium CBZ VPA

Anticonvulsants in Depression with medical comorbidity

Psychotic agitation in the elderly with mania

Initial treatment Haloperidol 0.25 to 0.5 mg IM or PO After one hour, administer lorazepam 0.5mg IM or PO

Stabilization

Repeat alternating doses every hour until calm

Monitor carefully to avoid over sedation

Alternative regimen if extra pyramidal symptoms develop

Atypical antipsychitic riseperidone (0.5mg), or olanzapine (2.5 - 5 mg)

Avoid chlorpromazine and thioridazine due to their anticholinergic and hypotensive side effects.

Chronic medication

Daily dose of medication is determined by adding the total dose of each medication required to calm the patient and dividing it equally throughout the day.

Adjunctive antipsychotic medicationRisperidone

Daily divided doses of .5 to 3mg

Monitor patient carefully for orthostatic hypotension and EPS as dose is increased

Olanzapine

Daily doses of 2.5 to 10 mg /day’

Transient elevation in liver enzyme have been reported

Risepeidone plus olanzapine

Observe for increased agitation or other manic symptom because of breakthrough mania with risperidone.

Clozapine

Reserved for patients who are intolerant of risperidone and olanzapine,

Daily doses start at 12.5mg, increase to 50mg

If history of seizure disorder should be maintained on an anticonvulsant

Monitor for orthostatic hypotension and weekly complete blood count to assess for evidence of bone marrow toxicity

ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTICS IN THE ELDERLY

Drug Metabolite t½ (h) CLR and T½changes in

elderly

CYP enzyme involved inmetabolism (potential

drug interactions)

Geriatricdoses mgper day

Clozapine Norclozapine, clozapineN- oxide (very limitedactivity)

4-12 CLRdecreased

CYP1A2, CYP2D6,CYP3A4 (theophylline,digoxin, warfarin)

50

Risperidone 9 hydroxy risperidone(active)

20 CLRdecreasedt½ prolonged

CYP2D6 (inhibitor drugssuch as quinidine) 2

Olanzapine 10-N-glucoranide, N-demethyl-olanzapine(inactive)

30 CLRdecreasedt½ prolonged

CYP2D6 (inhibitor drugssuch as quinidine) 10

Quetiapine Multiple (mainmetabolite is asulphoxide, usuallyinactive)

6' CLRdecreasedt½ prolonged

CYP3A4 (phenytoin,Thioridazine)

200

COMMON ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUG INTERACTION IN THE ELDERLY

Combination Effect

TCAs and conventionalantipsychotics

Raises blood antidepressantconcentrations

SSRIs and clozapine Raises blood clozapine concentrations

Risperidone and clozapine Raises blood clozapine concentration

Smoking Lower blood antipsychotic concentration

Cimetidine Lower blood antipsychotic concentration

Anticholinergic drugs Additive memory and delirious effects

Anticonvulsant, antihypertensiveand sedative drugs

Additive sedative and delirious effects

Expert consensus guidelines

SPECIAL ISSUE IN USING ANTIPSYCHOTICS IN THE ELDERLY

Formulatory decision should be based on cost when drug of comparable efficacy are available.

It is especially important to consider safety and tolerability along with efficacy and cost.

Avoid low and mid-potency conventional antipsychotics as well as clozapine & ziprasidone in elderly patients who have corrected QTc interval prolongation.

…Expert consensus guidelinesDISEASE DRUG INTERACTION

Avoid low & mid potency conventional antipsychotics, clozapine and olanzapine in patients who have diabetes mellitus, dyslipedimia and or obesity.

Avoid ziprasidone, low and mid potency conventional antipsychotics and clozapine in patients who have a prolonged QTc interval or congestive heart failure.

Quetiapine is the first line recommendation for a patient with Parkinson’s disease , also consider low dose olanazapine or clozapine for patients with Parkinsons

Avoid high dose of risperidone in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Management of Cognitive symptoms-Dementia

• Cholinesterase inhibitors-mild to moderate dementia (Cummings et al., 2004).– Prescription only for-

• probable Alzheimer’s disease• duration of illness > 6months• MMSE > 10

– 3 phase response evaluation-• Early (2 wk)-assess tolerance & side effects• Late (3 mth)-assess cognition• Continued (6 mth)- assess disease state

…Management of Cognitive symptoms contd.

– Stop treatment if-

• Early evaluation-poor tolerance or compliance

• Deterioration continues at pretreatment rate

after 3-6 month of medication

• On maintenance doses, accelerated

deterioration

Drugs useful for reducing the signs of dementia

Drug Dose

Donepezil 5-10 mg daily

Rivastigmine 1.5-6 mg b.i.d.

Galantamine 4-12 mg b.i.d.

Memantine 5-20 mg daily