The authors emphasize the need for careful differential diagnosis when symptoms of psychosisarise in patients over the age of 65 years. Prevalence of psychotic disorders in the elderly ranges from0.2%-4.7% in community-based samples to 10% in a nursing home population and as high as 63% ina study of Alzheimer’s patients. Risk factors associated with the development of psychotic symptomsand common causes of delirium are reviewed. Because age-related changes affect the pharmacokineticsof neuroleptics, the authors’ treatment recommendations, which include the use of traditional andnovel antipsychotics, take into account the higher risk of side effects in the elderly.
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