Geriatric Psychiatry Glossary

A class of medications that prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, used to treat cognitive symptoms in dementia.

Basic self-care tasks used to assess functional independence in elderly patients, including bathing, dressing, and eatin...

Standardized intervention framework for managing behavioral symptoms in dementia patients without immediate use of chemi...

Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale, a standardized tool for detecting and monitoring tardive dyskinesia.

A movement disorder characterized by inner restlessness and compulsive need to move, often medication-induced.

Severe reduction in spontaneous movement and speech while maintaining apparent alertness, often following brain injury o...

Lack of insight or awareness of one's own cognitive deficits or functional impairments, particularly common in dementia...

Cumulative effect of multiple medications with anticholinergic properties, increasing risk of cognitive impairment and d...

Ranking system that quantifies the anticholinergic effects of medications on cognitive function.

Language disorder affecting ability to produce or comprehend speech, commonly seen in geriatric patients with stroke or...

Inability to perform learned motor movements despite intact motor function, commonly seen in dementia.

Motor speech disorder affecting the planning and sequencing of speech movements, distinct from language comprehension de...

Evidence-based guidelines identifying potentially inappropriate medications for older adults to reduce adverse drug even...

Therapeutic approach that increases engagement in meaningful activities to improve mood and functioning in depressed eld...

Non-cognitive manifestations of dementia including agitation, depression, psychosis, and sleep disturbances.

Progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by early changes in personality, behavior, and executive function r...

Brief Interview for Mental Status, a cognitive screening tool used in long-term care settings.

Behavioral and psychological symptoms that frequently accompany dementia, including agitation, depression, and psychosis...

Slowness of movement commonly observed in parkinsonism and some forms of dementia.

Formal evaluation of a patient's ability to make informed decisions about their medical care or personal affairs.

Variation in a patient's decision-making abilities over time, particularly relevant in dementia and delirium assessments...

The physical, emotional, and financial stress experienced by family members or others providing care to individuals with...

Sudden, extreme emotional or behavioral response disproportionate to the triggering event, common in dementia patients.

Cognitive distortion where patients anticipate the worst possible outcomes, common in late-life anxiety and depression.