Psychopharmacology for the elderly

• 1.

  1. The use of tricyclic antidepressant agents in the elderly is limited by their anticholinergic and cardiovascular action. Newer compounds, such as mianserin, maprotiline and trazadone may provide advantages in this respect.

• 2.

  2. In the control of agitation and/or psychosis antipsychotic and β-blockers have been successfully employed.

• 3.

  3. Cerebral vasodilators, metabolic enhancers, and neuropeptides have been studied but their place in the treatment of psychogeriatric patients has not been clearly established.

• 4.

  4. Dihydroergotoxine has been extensively documented as providing significant benefit to patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type.

• 5.

  5. The cholinergic system may serve important functions in memory, although findings about the therapeutic effect of cholinergic agents are consistent.