Older adults recently started on psychotropic medication: where are the symptoms?

Objective The objective of this study is to understand the characteristics of older adults on newly prescribed psychotropic medication with minimal psychiatric symptoms. Methods Naturalistic cohort study of non‐institutionalized older adults in Pennsylvania participating in the Pharmaceutical Assist...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of geriatric psychiatry 2015-06, Vol.30 (6), p.580-586
Main Authors: Maust, Donovan T., Chen, Shirley H., Benson, Amy, Mavandadi, Shahrzad, Streim, Joel E., DiFilippo, Suzanne, Snedden, Thomas M., Oslin, David W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anti-Anxiety Agents - therapeutic use
Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use
Anxiety Disorders - drug therapy
Cohort Studies
Community health care
Depressive Disorder - drug therapy
Drug therapy
Female
Geriatric psychiatry
Geriatric psychology
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Status
Humans
Male
Mental Disorders - diagnosis
Mental Disorders - drug therapy
Mental health care
Middle Aged
older adults
Older people
Pennsylvania
primary care
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychotropic drugs
psychotropic medication
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Summary:Objective The objective of this study is to understand the characteristics of older adults on newly prescribed psychotropic medication with minimal psychiatric symptoms. Methods Naturalistic cohort study of non‐institutionalized older adults in Pennsylvania participating in the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly. Persons newly prescribed antidepressant or anxiolytic monotherapy or combination therapy were contacted for clinical assessment by a telephone‐based behavioral health service. The initial assessment included standardized mental health screening instruments and scales including the Blessed Orientation‐Memory‐Concentration test, Patient Health Questionnaire‐9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder‐7, and Medical Outcomes Survey (SF‐12). In addition, patients were asked for their understanding of the prescription indication. Results Of the 254 participants who met minimal symptom criteria (Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 
ISSN:0885-6230
1099-1166
DOI:10.1002/gps.4187