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Mental Health in Older People a Practice Primer

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Mental Health in Older People a Practice Primer Mental Health in Older People A Practice Primer Published by NHS England and NHS Improvement Christoph Mueller, Clinical Lecturer Amanda Thompsell, Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist Daniel Harwood, Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist Peter Bagshaw, General Practitioner Alistair Burns, Professor of Old Age Psychiatry NHS England INFORMATION READER BOX Directorate Medical Operations and Information Specialised Commissioning Nursing Trans. & Corp. Ops. Strategy & Innovation Finance Publications Gateway Reference: 07127 Document Purpose Guidance Document Name Older People's Mental Health The Practice Primer Author Older People's Mental Health and Dementia, NHS England Publication Date 11th September 2017 Target Audience GPs Additional Circulation CCG Clinical Leaders, CCG Accountable Officers, GPs List Description 0 Cross Reference N/A Superseded Docs N/A (if applicable) Action Required N/A Timing / Deadlines N/A (if applicable) Contact Details for Dementia team further information NHS England Quarry House Quarry Hill Leeds LS2 7UE https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/dementia/ Document Status This is a controlled document. Whilst this document may be printed, the electronic version posted on the intranet is the controlled copy. Any printed copies of this document are not controlled. As a controlled document, this document should not be saved onto local or network drives but should always be accessed from the intranet. Promoting equality and addressing health inequalities are at the heart of NHS England’s values. Throughout the development of the policies and processes cited in this document, we have: Given due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation, to advance equality of opportunity, and to foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic (as cited under the Equality Act 2010) and those who do not share it; and Given regard to the need to reduce inequalities between patients in access to, and outcomes from healthcare services and to ensure services are provided in an integrated way where this might reduce health inequalities. 2 OFFICIAL Document Title: Mental Health in Older People Subtitle: A Practice Primer Version number: 1 First published: 12th September 2017 Prepared by: Alistair Burns – Professor of Old Age Psychiatry, University of Manchester & National Clinical Director for Mental Health in Older People and Dementia, NHS England Amanda Thompsell – Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Christoph Mueller – Higher Trainee and Clinical Lecturer in Old Age Psychiatry, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Daniel Harwood – Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Peter Bagshaw – General Practitioner, CCG Clinical Lead and Director, South West Clinical Network for Dementia Classification: OFFICIAL This information can be made available in alternative formats, such as easy read or large print, and may be available in alternative languages, upon request. Please contact 0300 311 22 33 or email [email protected] stating that this document is owned by the Older People’s Mental Health team, Operations & Information Directorate. 3 Contents Contents ................................................................................................................................ 4 1. Foreword by Tom Wright CBE, Age UK ......................................................................... 5 2. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 6 3. What’s different about mental health in older people? .................................................... 7 Taking a History ......................................................................................................... 7 Mental state examination ........................................................................................... 7 Physical examination ................................................................................................. 8 Investigations ............................................................................................................. 9 Indications for referral to specialist and older adult mental health services ................ 9 Prescribing ................................................................................................................. 9 4. Depression .................................................................................................................. 10 Symptoms of depression ......................................................................................... 10 Distinguishing Depression and Dementia ................................................................. 11 Suicide ..................................................................................................................... 11 Bereavement ........................................................................................................... 11 Drug treatment ......................................................................................................... 12 Alternatives to drugs ................................................................................................ 14 Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) ............................................................................. 14 Management of depression in frail older people ....................................................... 15 5. Anxiety disorders ......................................................................................................... 16 Treatment ................................................................................................................ 17 Insomnia .................................................................................................................. 18 6. Bipolar affective disorder ............................................................................................. 19 Lithium Monitoring ................................................................................................... 20 7. Psychotic disorders...................................................................................................... 22 Late-onset schizophrenia ......................................................................................... 22 Symptoms ................................................................................................................ 22 Treatment ................................................................................................................ 23 Physical health monitoring ....................................................................................... 23 Indications for referral .............................................................................................. 24 8. Delirium ....................................................................................................................... 26 9. Charles Bonnet syndrome ........................................................................................... 27 10. Alcohol ...................................................................................................................... 27 Management strategies ........................................................................................... 28 11. Personality problems ................................................................................................ 29 12. Hoarding disorder and Diogenes syndrome .............................................................. 29 13. Elder abuse .............................................................................................................. 31 Appendices ......................................................................................................................... 32 “What a GP needs to know about…” ........................................................................ 33 Local summary of services and phone numbers (to self- complete) ......................... 38 National services available....................................................................................... 39 Further reading ........................................................................................................ 39 4 OFFICIAL 1. Foreword by Tom Wright CBE, Age UK It is now widely accepted that the mental health needs of older people have historically been under-recognised and under-treated. Although the proportion of those affected is broadly in line with other age groups, older people have not been able to access the same level of support. Research has also found that older people with common mental health conditions are more likely to be on drug therapies and less likely to be in receipt of talking therapies compared to other age groups. Older people themselves may be reluctant to seek help – with fewer than one in six older people with depression ever discussing it with their GP. Later life is a time when getting the right support is extremely important for wellbeing due to the complex challenges older people often face. As our population ages, it is crucial to ensure that older people’s mental health not only attains parity with physical health diagnostics and care, but parity with other age groups too. At Age UK we are committed to addressing the mental health needs of older people so that they can live fulfilling later lives. Over the past few years we have worked with NHS England on a campaign to improve older people’s
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