Psychotropic Drugs for Older Adults With Psychiatric Disorders Presenting to the Emergency Department: Prescription Patterns and Treatment Outcomes
Objective A high proportion of patients presenting to Emergency Departments (EDs) consists of vulnerable elderly people. Mental illnesses are frequently related to advancing age, with difficult to detect symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate psychiatric drug use by geriatric patients in...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.prcp.20250002 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849689193798696960 |
|---|---|
| author | Marianna Mazza Marcello Covino Francesco Maria Lisci Caterina Brisi Georgios D. Kotzalidis Giuseppe Marano Francesca Abate Maria Benedetta Anesini Gianluca Boggio Michele Ciliberto Valeria De Masi Cecilia Falsini Ester Maria Marzo Sara Rossi Maria Chiara Spera Alberto Torresi Benedetta Simeoni Francesco Franceschi Gabriele Sani |
| author_facet | Marianna Mazza Marcello Covino Francesco Maria Lisci Caterina Brisi Georgios D. Kotzalidis Giuseppe Marano Francesca Abate Maria Benedetta Anesini Gianluca Boggio Michele Ciliberto Valeria De Masi Cecilia Falsini Ester Maria Marzo Sara Rossi Maria Chiara Spera Alberto Torresi Benedetta Simeoni Francesco Franceschi Gabriele Sani |
| author_sort | Marianna Mazza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective A high proportion of patients presenting to Emergency Departments (EDs) consists of vulnerable elderly people. Mental illnesses are frequently related to advancing age, with difficult to detect symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate psychiatric drug use by geriatric patients in an ED for whom a psychiatric consultation was needed, according to their psychopathology and severity of outcome. Methods During 2014 to 2023, 342 aged patients (35.96% men and 64.04% women; median age = 73 years, range 68–79 years) sought help at the ED of our hospital and required psychiatric consultation. Results Male sex, nonsuicidal self‐harm, and access through emergency medical services were predictors of >48‐h ED stay/hospital admission (the main severity outcome). Patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and psychotic disorders were more socially disadvantaged and with significantly longer length of stay at the ED than the other groups. Additionally, BD patients had more psychiatric drug prescriptions at discharge than patients in the other diagnostic groups. Current nonsuicidal self‐harm emerged as a predictor of >48‐h ED stay/hospital admission. Conclusions Future studies should focus on investigating suicide risk in ED contexts, on correct diagnosing and on prescription appropriateness of medications in older adults with psychiatric disorders referring to the ED so to tailor‐cut treatment on individual patients' needs. Relevant to Clinical Practice This study highlights the significant impact of psychiatric conditions on healthcare utilization among elderly patients presenting to the ED. The findings emphasize the need for improved diagnosis and management of psychiatric disorders, medication optimization, and tailored treatment approaches. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9bd1bd16a3274435a56a29bcf6d3bf0f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2575-5609 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-9bd1bd16a3274435a56a29bcf6d3bf0f2025-08-20T03:21:43ZengWileyPsychiatric Research and Clinical Practice2575-56092025-06-017211712710.1176/appi.prcp.20250002Psychotropic Drugs for Older Adults With Psychiatric Disorders Presenting to the Emergency Department: Prescription Patterns and Treatment OutcomesMarianna Mazza0Marcello Covino1Francesco Maria Lisci2Caterina Brisi3Georgios D. Kotzalidis4Giuseppe Marano5Francesca Abate6Maria Benedetta Anesini7Gianluca Boggio8Michele Ciliberto9Valeria De Masi10Cecilia Falsini11Ester Maria Marzo12Sara Rossi13Maria Chiara Spera14Alberto Torresi15Benedetta Simeoni16Francesco Franceschi17Gabriele Sani18Unit of Psychiatry Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Rome ItalyEmergency Medicine Department Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Rome ItalyUnit of Psychiatry Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Rome ItalyUnit of Psychiatry Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Rome ItalyUnit of Psychiatry Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Rome ItalyUnit of Psychiatry Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Rome ItalyUnit of Psychiatry Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Rome ItalyUnit of Psychiatry Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Rome ItalyUnit of Psychiatry Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Rome ItalyUnit of Psychiatry Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Rome ItalyUnit of Psychiatry Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Rome ItalyUnit of Psychiatry Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Rome ItalyUnit of Psychiatry Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Rome ItalyUnit of Psychiatry Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Rome ItalyUnit of Psychiatry Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Rome ItalyUnit of Psychiatry Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Rome ItalyEmergency Medicine Department Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Rome ItalyEmergency Medicine Department Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Rome ItalyUnit of Psychiatry Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Rome ItalyObjective A high proportion of patients presenting to Emergency Departments (EDs) consists of vulnerable elderly people. Mental illnesses are frequently related to advancing age, with difficult to detect symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate psychiatric drug use by geriatric patients in an ED for whom a psychiatric consultation was needed, according to their psychopathology and severity of outcome. Methods During 2014 to 2023, 342 aged patients (35.96% men and 64.04% women; median age = 73 years, range 68–79 years) sought help at the ED of our hospital and required psychiatric consultation. Results Male sex, nonsuicidal self‐harm, and access through emergency medical services were predictors of >48‐h ED stay/hospital admission (the main severity outcome). Patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and psychotic disorders were more socially disadvantaged and with significantly longer length of stay at the ED than the other groups. Additionally, BD patients had more psychiatric drug prescriptions at discharge than patients in the other diagnostic groups. Current nonsuicidal self‐harm emerged as a predictor of >48‐h ED stay/hospital admission. Conclusions Future studies should focus on investigating suicide risk in ED contexts, on correct diagnosing and on prescription appropriateness of medications in older adults with psychiatric disorders referring to the ED so to tailor‐cut treatment on individual patients' needs. Relevant to Clinical Practice This study highlights the significant impact of psychiatric conditions on healthcare utilization among elderly patients presenting to the ED. The findings emphasize the need for improved diagnosis and management of psychiatric disorders, medication optimization, and tailored treatment approaches.https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.prcp.20250002 |
| spellingShingle | Marianna Mazza Marcello Covino Francesco Maria Lisci Caterina Brisi Georgios D. Kotzalidis Giuseppe Marano Francesca Abate Maria Benedetta Anesini Gianluca Boggio Michele Ciliberto Valeria De Masi Cecilia Falsini Ester Maria Marzo Sara Rossi Maria Chiara Spera Alberto Torresi Benedetta Simeoni Francesco Franceschi Gabriele Sani Psychotropic Drugs for Older Adults With Psychiatric Disorders Presenting to the Emergency Department: Prescription Patterns and Treatment Outcomes Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice |
| title | Psychotropic Drugs for Older Adults With Psychiatric Disorders Presenting to the Emergency Department: Prescription Patterns and Treatment Outcomes |
| title_full | Psychotropic Drugs for Older Adults With Psychiatric Disorders Presenting to the Emergency Department: Prescription Patterns and Treatment Outcomes |
| title_fullStr | Psychotropic Drugs for Older Adults With Psychiatric Disorders Presenting to the Emergency Department: Prescription Patterns and Treatment Outcomes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychotropic Drugs for Older Adults With Psychiatric Disorders Presenting to the Emergency Department: Prescription Patterns and Treatment Outcomes |
| title_short | Psychotropic Drugs for Older Adults With Psychiatric Disorders Presenting to the Emergency Department: Prescription Patterns and Treatment Outcomes |
| title_sort | psychotropic drugs for older adults with psychiatric disorders presenting to the emergency department prescription patterns and treatment outcomes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.prcp.20250002 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariannamazza psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes AT marcellocovino psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes AT francescomarialisci psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes AT caterinabrisi psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes AT georgiosdkotzalidis psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes AT giuseppemarano psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes AT francescaabate psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes AT mariabenedettaanesini psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes AT gianlucaboggio psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes AT micheleciliberto psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes AT valeriademasi psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes AT ceciliafalsini psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes AT estermariamarzo psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes AT sararossi psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes AT mariachiaraspera psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes AT albertotorresi psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes AT benedettasimeoni psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes AT francescofranceschi psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes AT gabrielesani psychotropicdrugsforolderadultswithpsychiatricdisorderspresentingtotheemergencydepartmentprescriptionpatternsandtreatmentoutcomes |