Psychoses are not characterized by severe mental disorders; they increase gradually as the disease progresses.

Treatment

Treatment of senile psychoses combines medicinal and psychotherapeutic methods. The choice depends on the severity of the condition, the type of disorder, and the presence of somatic diseases. Patients are prescribed the following groups of drugs:

The doctor selects a combination of drugs according to the type of psychosis.

It is also necessary to treat a somatic disease in parallel, if it appears cause of the disorder.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapeutic sessions are an excellent means for correcting psychosis in the elderly. In combination with drug therapy, they provide positive results.

Doctors mainly use group classes. Old people, studying in groups, acquire a new circle of friends with common interests. A person can begin to talk openly about his problems and fears, thereby getting rid of them.

Most effective methods of psychotherapy:

Senile psychoses- this is a problem not only for the patient himself, but also for his relatives. With timely and correct treatment, the prognosis for senile psychosis is favorable. Even with severe symptoms, stable remission can be achieved. Chronic psychoses, especially those associated with depression, are less responsive to treatment.

The patient's relatives need to be patient, show care and attention. Mental disorder is a consequence of the aging of the body, so no person is immune from it.

Description:

Unfortunately, a cure for senile dementia has not been found. Psychology, as a science, still studies the senile. When treating senial psychosis, symptomatic therapy is carried out. In a state of confusion with anxiety, antipsychotics with a sedative effect (tisercin, sonapax) are prescribed in small dosages. If the patient has . Then small doses of antidepressants are prescribed along with sedatives (pirazidol, amitriptyline). For anxiety and loss of sleep, tranquilizers and antipsychotics with hypnotic properties (phenazepam, chloroprothixene, radedorm) are prescribed. Patient care is also important.

Symptoms:

The initial symptoms of senile psychosis represent an increasing change in personality. This includes stinginess, egocentrism, and coarsening. The individuality of the patient’s character is lost. At the same time, the patient’s level of judgment decreases, he is not able to acquire new knowledge and skills, memory gradually fades (first recently acquired, and then experience acquired throughout life), false memories arise, and speech becomes laconic. Only basic physical needs remain. Against the background of dementia, psychotic states alternate: anxious or angry depression, material damage, jealousy. Patients' consciousness becomes confused when combined with somatic diseases.
Occurs in patients with depression. They are not severe, but last a long time and are characterized by discontent, gloominess and hypochondriacal diseases.
Somatic diseases aggravate the course of psychosis. Women are most susceptible to this disease; the risk of the disease increases if someone in your family has had or is suffering from this type of disease. The average age of the patient at the onset of the disease is from seventy to seventy-eight years.

Causes:

The etiology and pathogenesis of senile dementia are unknown. Women get sick more often than men. The risk of the disease in families of patients with senile dementia is higher than among the rest of the population. Concomitant somatic diseases modify and aggravate the picture of psychosis.

Treatment:

For treatment the following is prescribed:

Unfortunately, a cure for senile dementia has not been found. Psychology, as a science, is still studying senial psychosis. When treating senial psychosis, symptomatic therapy is carried out. In a state of confusion with anxiety, antipsychotics with a sedative effect (tisercin, sonapax) are prescribed in small dosages. If the patient is depressed. Then small doses of antidepressants are prescribed along with sedatives (pirazidol, amitriptyline). For anxiety and loss of sleep, tranquilizers and antipsychotics with hypnotic properties (phenazepam, chlorprothixene, radedorm) are prescribed. Patient care is also important.

Senile psychosis is a group of mental illnesses that develop in people over the age of 60. These disorders are accompanied by a decrease in mental and intellectual activity, loss of skills acquired by a person.

Some sources contain information that senile psychosis is senile dementia. This statement is not entirely correct. One of the signs of senile psychosis may be dementia, but it will not be total. The main symptoms of this group of diseases are of the psychotic type. Moreover, intelligence can be completely preserved.

Senile psychosis has similar symptoms to Pick's disease, as well as presenile psychoses, which develop at an earlier age. This complicates diagnosis in the early stages of the disease.

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Causes

Senile psychosis occurs due to the gradual, age-related death of a group of cells. To date, the reasons causing these processes have not been precisely determined. Experts put forward various versions.

For example, as with many other atrophic processes, the presumed cause is heredity. Indeed, in medical practice, cases of “familial dementia” are often encountered. Adverse external influences and somatic pathologies are provoking factors in the development of the disease.

Another probable cause of senile psychosis is degenerative processes localized in the brain. There is a theory that the disease develops under the influence of various infectious diseases.

Among other causes of senile psychosis, experts identify the following:

• physical inactivity,
• unhealthy diet
• sleep disorders,
• deterioration of vision and hearing.

Symptoms

The disease may occur acutely or be preceded by a prodromal period, which is accompanied by increased fatigue, sleep disturbance, loss of appetite, and difficulties with self-care.

All senile psychoses are characterized by a smooth course. They gradually progress, which leads to a deep breakdown of mental activity.

The main signs of senile psychosis are the following:

• fast fatiguability;
• clouding of consciousness;
• occasional hallucinations;
• rave;
• insomnia;
• loss of appetite;
• motor excitement.

These are common symptoms that occur in the vast majority of cases of development of this group of ailments. However, you should know that senile psychosis occurs in two forms - acute and chronic. Accordingly, their individual characteristics will differ.

Thus, the following main symptoms of the disease are characteristic of a chronic disease:

• the occurrence of depressive and paranoid syndromes;
• prolonged bouts of delirium, hallucinations;
• development of productive diseases with preservation of intelligence and memory.

Forms of senile psychosis

There are two main forms of prussian psychosis - acute and chronic. The first is accompanied by clouding of consciousness, the second by the emergence of depressive and paranoid states.

In addition, doctors distinguish other forms of hydrocyanic psychosis:

The disease is divided into the following forms:

Diagnostics

Diagnosing the disease in the early stages of its development is quite difficult. The disease is masked behind symptoms that are characteristic of tumor, cardiovascular and other ailments that often occur in older people.

It is possible to make an accurate conclusion about the presence of senile psychosis only after the disease manifests itself in the involution phase. The diagnosis is determined based on symptoms and additional research methods, such as computed tomography.

It is the use of the latter that makes it possible to accurately determine the presence of senile psychosis and differentiate it from diseases with similar symptoms (for example, late schizophrenia).

Treatment

There is no effective treatment to completely cure senile psychosis. These conditions require the use of maintenance therapy, which will reduce the severity of symptoms or eliminate them altogether.

Treatment can be outpatient or inpatient. The decision on hospitalization is made by the doctor, and relatives give their consent to place the patient in a medical facility.

Typically, in the early stages of the disease, the patient is not hospitalized. A change of environment can negatively affect his condition and cause a sharp progression of the disease.

Treatment is prescribed by a doctor taking into account the following factors:

1. Form and severity of the disease.
2. The presence of somatic diseases and their severity.
3. General condition of the patient.

Medical practice shows that it is easier to cope with acute senile psychosis than with a chronic illness. Its treatment also involves the correction of somatic diseases that caused its development.

If senile psychosis manifests itself as depressive states, then the patient is prescribed psychotropic drugs. The dosage is calculated individually. Other manifestations of psychosis are eliminated with the help of triftazine, propazine, sonapax, haloperidol.

These drugs have quite serious side effects. Increasing the dosage on your own is unacceptable, as it can lead to the development of complications.

Self-medication for senile psychosis is prohibited, because it can cause a chronic form of the disease. Under the supervision of the attending doctor, the patient will be able to get rid of the symptoms of the disease, which complicates both his life and the lives of his loved ones.

Effective preventive measures against senile psychosis have not been developed. Experts name general recommendations that allow older people to prolong a full and healthy life:

• maintaining a sufficient level of activity;
• maintaining social connections;
• searching for new hobbies that are accessible to older people.

In addition, it is necessary to promptly treat emerging somatic diseases, as they can cause the development of senile psychosis.

Psychological impact

Treatment of senile psychosis includes not only the prescription of medications, but also psychotherapy.

• focusing the patient’s attention on the illogicality of his behavior and the likely complications it may cause;
• treatment with positive memories, which leads to an improvement in the patient’s mood and helps reduce anxiety;
• forced orientation of the patient in time and space;
• using games for mental stimulation, solving puzzles;
• art therapy, listening to music, as well as other methods that have a stimulating effect on the patient.

Senile psychosis is a mental illness caused by progressive brain atrophy. It develops in people over 65 years of age. Violations can be different: inability to assess what is happening, anamnestic disorientation, memory decay, dementia, etc.

Symptoms

• Decreased interest in previously significant activities.
• Inability to concentrate, disturbances in thinking, memory and speech.
• Impaired coordination of movements.
• Personality changes.

Reasons for the development of the disease

The most common cause is degenerative processes in the brain. But sometimes senile melancholy occurs, for which organic changes in the brain are not characteristic.

Treatment

It is impossible to cure the disease. However, it is possible to mitigate its symptoms. The most effective medications are those that improve blood circulation and stimulate metabolism in the brain. If the patient is overly agitated or aggressive, he is prescribed benzodiazepines. In addition, psychotherapy and social therapy are very important.

We must not assume that the atrophic process in brain activity is inevitable. Mental work, a constant desire to learn new things, repetition of learned material, interest in the world around us, communication with people - all this will help to maintain mental abilities longer.

In old age, many people already suffer from some kind of illness, therefore, when visiting a doctor, it is recommended to talk to him and about your mental state.

Not every case of senile psychosis is amenable to outpatient treatment. Often the doctor has to hospitalize the patient.

Senile psychosis is a form of senile dementia. There are several main forms of senile dementia (dementia). Let's look at them in a little more detail.

Sclerosis of the cerebral arteries

The disease is characterized by the appearance of small foci of cerebral infarction. The first symptoms of the disease are a compressive headache, dizziness when flexing and extending the body, and tinnitus. Patients often doze off during the day and suffer from insomnia at night. The patient can quickly remember names and numbers, but his speech remains slurred and inconsistent. He is unable to concentrate. His mental state is deteriorating. Personality disorders occur that progress to dementia. Along with mental changes, changes in internal organs characteristic of atherosclerosis, and sometimes neurological symptoms, are detected. Dementia may appear 3 months after the stroke.

Pick's disease

Premature destruction of the brain matter is observed in sick people over the age of 40 years. The disease occurs with impaired logical thinking and perception, apathy, and amnesia.

Alzheimer's disease

This is a degenerative disease characterized by a progressive decline in intelligence. Appears after 50 years. The reasons are unknown. Symptoms of the disease are varied: a gradual decrease in memory and attention, disruption of thinking processes and learning ability, disorientation in time and space, difficulties in communication, personality changes. Symptoms progress and lead to dementia.

Dementia caused by hydrocephalus

Characterized by dilation of the ventricles of the brain. Impaired memory and thinking, apathy, and seizures occur, which leads to dementia. Surgery can alleviate all of these symptoms. The cause is hydrocephalus of the brain.

Premature frustration

Usually people aged 40-60 years suffer. Its symptoms are loss of vitality. exhaustion, apathy, depression. The disease is characterized by periods of exacerbations and remissions.

According to statistics, people over 65 years of age often commit suicide in a state of deep depression, which has nothing to do with pathological processes in the brain.

Years bring not only wisdom - they also bring with them all kinds of diseases. And very often, old people experience senile psychosis associated with age-related changes occurring in the body.

Senile psychosis is...

Psychosis disrupts the perception of reality. In the case of senile disorder, the pathology is diagnosed in people over 60-65 years of age. It can appear in two forms:

• acute, accompanied by sudden and transient stupefaction;
• chronic, which is characterized by the occurrence of stable depressive, delusional, paranoid and hallucinatory states.

Senile psychosis is not senile dementia. Pathologies to some extent can develop simultaneously, but they do not overlap. In psychosis, intelligence is often preserved, and then dementia is not total.

Why does senile psychosis occur?

Physical and mental decline of the body with age is considered a relative norm: to one degree or another, these processes will affect everyone. But not all people fall into psychosis, even if their character has deteriorated and their understanding of the world has become less complete and accurate. The main causes of senile disorder:

1. Genetic predisposition. If there have been episodes of senile psychosis and other age-related disorders in the family, then the likelihood of encountering pathology increases.
2. Organic disorders in brain function. Age-related death of brain cells and the development of Alzheimer's disease or Pick's disease is a typical factor provoking psychosis in old age.
3. Somatic disorders that were not treated in time. Hypovitaminosis, respiratory diseases, pathologies of the genitourinary and cardiovascular systems can cause senile psychosis.
4. Surgery performed under anesthesia. Elderly patients often experience impaired brain activity in the postoperative period and may demonstrate symptoms of incipient psychosis.
5. Negative emotions, stress, worries. Excessive worry is dangerous at any age. But after 60 years, they are able to start the process of developing psychosis - in this way the psyche reacts to loads that are too intense for it.
6. Wrong lifestyle. Old people often suffer from low mobility, poor nutrition, and an unbalanced daily routine. As a result, their body becomes vulnerable to diseases, including senile psychosis.

Relatives are advised to closely monitor the psycho-emotional well-being of older people. Any changes in behavior should be a reason to contact a specialist. Moreover, it is imperative to check the physical condition of the body: often, treatment of blood vessels can delay the onset of psychotic disorders.

How to recognize senile psychosis in the early stages

A number of symptoms indicate that a person is prone to psychosis. The main thing is to notice them in time. The following signs should alert you:

• sudden weakness, dystonia;
• loss of interest in something new;
• lack of motivation to complete any tasks;
• deterioration in self-care ability;
• depression, persistently bad mood;
• increased excitability, aggression, tearfulness, anger, mood swings;
• weakening of mental activity;
• sleep disturbance;
• excessive passion for a certain idea (religion, politics, alternative medicine, magic, ufology);
• reluctance to come into contact with people, unhealthy suspicion.

Approaching psychosis changes character. The patient acquires features that are unusual for him, becoming a completely new personality. At this stage, the patient is usually aware of the changes happening to him and understands that they are associated with pathology. But older people often hesitate to consult a doctor, allowing the disorder to progress.

Key symptoms of acute and chronic senile psychosis

The acute form of psychosis manifests itself clearly and suddenly. The disorder provokes the following symptoms:

1. Fussiness, restlessness, need for constant movement.
2. Confusion of thinking, loss of orientation in space.
3. Delusional ideas and thoughts:
   • about his own greatness (the patient talks about meeting celebrities and politicians, about his imaginary achievements);
   • about world conspiracies (the patient begins to feel that reptilian humanoids are in power, that countries are ruled by Freemasons, etc.);
   • about persecution (old people suspect their neighbors of spraying harmful gas, want to take away the patient’s apartment, etc.).
4. Illusions and hallucinations.
5. Exacerbation of concomitant somatic pathologies (for example, heart disease).

An attack of acute psychosis lasts up to three weeks. During periods of remission, the patient suffers from weakness and apathy. In some cases, the course of the disease is continuous.

The chronic form of senile psychosis is slightly less pronounced, but more extended over time. The disorder may manifest itself through the following signs:

1. Depression. Its severity ranges from slight lethargy to a feeling of absolute meaninglessness of life. Patients suffer from increased anxiety, self-flagellation, and depersonalization. The depressive form of psychosis is more common in women and lasts up to 17 years. As a rule, deep memory damage does not occur.
2. Paranoia. Chronic delusion implies a stable suspicion of the patient regarding his immediate environment. For example, a patient may complain that relatives do not feed him and humiliate him in every possible way, trying to kill him. The ability to care for oneself is preserved, although socialization understandably suffers. A person can live in deep paranoia for many years.
3. Hallucinosis. During an attack, the patient loses critical thinking, but the rest of the time he adequately assesses the situation and understands the “fakeness” of the experience. Hallucinations are:
   • tactile (sensation of itching, stinging, burning, presence of foreign objects under the skin);
   • verbal (audible threats, swearing, insults, orders);
   • visual (visible people, animals, other characters with whom the patient can come into contact).

Often conditions are combined, misleading specialists. For example, with a long-term course of psychosis with signs of paranoia and hallucinations, a person may be diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Senile psychosis: treatment

The most favorable prognosis is in the acute form. This disorder is treated in a hospital, and with the proper quality of therapy, the patient can be returned to a relatively normal life. The decision on hospitalization is made by a specialist, taking into account the wishes of the patient’s relatives. In the case of chronic psychosis, only relief of symptoms is possible; it is impossible to completely eliminate the disorder. The support of relatives is important, since the patient is unable to fully control his behavior.

Psychosis is treated with the use of psychotropics (pirazidol, amitriptyline, azaphene). Antipsychotics (haloperidol, Sonapax), antipsychotics (triftazine) are indicated. Anticholinergics (cyclodol) are prescribed. Interaction with pets, art therapy, walks in the fresh air, and solving puzzles are considered useful.

No one is immune from age-related changes. You can only carefully monitor the condition of your loved ones and, at the first signs, show them to specialists. Therapy in the early stages is always more effective than in the later stages.