Psychogeriatric prophylaxis is a new field of medicine that focuses on the prevention of psychiatric problems among seniors. Some of the interactions that can reduce the risk of this type of disorder in older patients may even be surprising - it turns out that the elderly family and the physical activity they undertake play a significant role in psychogeriatric prophylaxis.

Contents:

  1. Psychogeriatric prophylaxis - tasks
  2. Psychogeriatric prophylaxis - the role of the family
  3. Psychogeriatric prevention - treatment of chronic diseases
  4. Psychogeriatric prophylaxis - the role of physical activity

Psychiatric prophylaxis , just like the old age psychiatry it is a part of, will play an increasingly important role due to the aging of societies.

As generally in all medicine, in the psychiatry of old age it is important not only to treat the problems that belong to it, but also to try to prevent their occurrence. Currently, there is a noticeable increase in interest in psychiatric prophylaxis, the aim of which is precisely to reduce the risk that a senior will develop some mental disorders at all.

Psychogeriatric prophylaxis - tasks

Elderly people have very different psychiatric problems - they may eventually suffer from schizophrenia, as well as from bipolar disorder (BD) or schizoaffective disorders.

These types of individuals are rather difficult to prevent, but the risk of other mental disorders, which are also found among older patients, can be influenced.

We are talking here, for example, about mood disorders (such as depression), anxiety disorders (such as, among others, generalized anxiety disorder). In addition, preventive measures can reduce the risk of diseases from the border of psychiatry and neurology, which are dementia disorders.

Psychogeriatric prophylaxis - the role of the family

In fact, an exceptionally large role in psychogeriatric prevention is played by the relationship between a senior and his family. This is because those elderly people who have regular contact with their loved ones face such problems asdepression or neuroses occur less frequently.

The situation is completely different when an elderly patient is lonely - with age his ability to function independently may deteriorate, and he may also feel isolated from society. Such phenomena are not beneficial for the psyche of any person, especially for the psyche of a senior.

The feeling of loneliness increases the risk of low mood and the emergence of various levels of anxiety in older patients.

It should be emphasized here that mental disorders may appear not only in lonely seniors, but also in those who have regular support from their family.

Due to the possibility of an elderly person, you need to simply observe and in a situation where the family notices any disturbing symptoms - e.g. a decrease in energy and motivation to act, low mood, sleep disorders or lack of appetite - its members should persuade him to visit a specialist at the earliest.

The more therapeutic interactions are implemented at an earlier stage in the development of mental disorders, the greater the chances of curing them as soon as possible.

Psychogeriatric prevention - treatment of chronic diseases

It has long been said that human soma and psyche are directly connected with each other, but still quite often many people - even doctors - forget about this relationship.

The various risk factors for various mental disorders include: somatic diseases, especially those of a chronic nature. Both diabetes, chronic heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can increase the risk of these entities.

Mental disorders of various types develop with increased frequency in patients suffering from some kind of neoplastic diseases.

There is no need to convince anyone that somatic diseases in seniors are not rare, and moreover, quite often in one patient several different diseases coexist at the same time.

The very occurrence of a chronic, basically incurable disease increases the risk of mental disorders, and the risk increases dramatically when the disease is poorly controlled (e.g. patients often experience exacerbations).

As part of psychogeriatric prophylaxis, it is definitely necessary to take care of both the detection of any somatic diseases in seniors, as well as their proper treatment that gives optimal results.

Psychogeriatric prophylaxis - the role of physical activity

Amonginteractions included in psychogeriatric prophylaxis, care is also taken to ensure that seniors do not give up physical exertion. They can be recommended various activities - cycling, swimming, Nordic walking can bring beneficial effects, but also simply walking.

Movement has many beneficial effects - it stimulates blood circulation in the body. In addition, endorphins are released during various exercises. They are referred to as happiness hormones because they positively affect the human mood - it is thanks to endorphins during, but also for some time after exercise, a person simply feels better.

There are also reports that regular physical activity can reduce the risk of developing various mental disorders - such mentions concern, inter alia, relationship between exercise and a lower risk of depression or even dementia.

About the authorBow. Tomasz NęckiA graduate of medicine at the Medical University of Poznań. An admirer of the Polish sea (most willingly strolling along its shores with headphones in his ears), cats and books. In working with patients, he focuses on always listening to them and spending as much time as they need.

Read more articles by this author

Category:

Geriatrics