Geriatric Psychiatry Glossary

Repetitive, persistent behavior or thought patterns that continue inappropriately beyond their relevance, common in deme...

A care approach that focuses on the individual's unique needs, preferences, and dignity rather than just managing sympto...

Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment document that translates patient preferences into medical orders for seri...

The concurrent use of multiple medications, particularly problematic in elderly patients due to increased risk of advers...

A neurodegenerative syndrome characterized by gradual loss of language abilities while other cognitive functions remain...

A neurological condition causing sudden, uncontrollable episodes of crying or laughing that are disproportionate to or i...

Cognitive impairment secondary to psychiatric conditions, particularly depression, that mimics dementia but is potential...

Non-pharmacological treatments that address psychological and social factors contributing to mental health conditions.

A polysomnographic finding where normal muscle paralysis during REM sleep is absent, often associated with REM sleep beh...

Therapeutic technique that involves repeatedly presenting factual information about time, place, and person to patients...

Sleep disorder where patients act out dreams due to loss of normal muscle paralysis during REM sleep.

Therapeutic approach using recall of past experiences to improve mood, cognition, and social engagement in elderly patie...

Progressive loss of abilities in reverse order of their acquisition during development, observed in Alzheimer's disease...

The Resource Utilization in Dementia scale, an instrument measuring the economic impact and resource consumption associa...

A progressive neurodegenerative condition characterized by loss of semantic memory and knowledge of word meanings while...

Alterations in normal sleep stage patterns and transitions commonly seen in elderly patients with psychiatric and neurol...

Disturbances in normal circadian rhythms common in elderly patients with psychiatric and neurological conditions, affect...

A condition where patients exhibit some features of delirium but do not meet full diagnostic criteria, representing a cl...

Pattern of increased confusion, agitation, and behavioral disturbances that occur in the late afternoon or evening in de...

Behavioral pattern in dementia patients characterized by increased confusion and agitation in late afternoon and evening...

Late-onset movement disorder characterized by involuntary movements, typically caused by long-term antipsychotic use.

Restlessness, confusion, and distress occurring in the final days or weeks of life, requiring specialized palliative int...

An unexpected return of mental clarity and communication abilities in dying patients with severe cognitive impairment sh...

Agitation and motor restlessness occurring in dying patients, often accompanied by confusion and altered consciousness.