Personality disorders in late life - Understanding and overcoming the gap in research

Author(s): Maletta, G.

Journal/Book: Amer J Geriatr Psychiatr. 2000; 8: 1400 K St N W, Ste 1101, Washington, DC 20005, USA. Amer Psychiatric Press, Inc. 4-18.

Abstract: A review of the literature on personality disorders (PD) in late life reveals papers than those found for PD in younger adults and for other major late-life psychiatric diagnoses. The authors suggest that this gap is largely due to the difficult and inconsistent diagnostic process for late-life PDs. Diagnosis is complicated by the frequent unavailability and/or unreliability of longitudinal data, lack of age-adjusted diagnostic instruments, and failure of the current Axis II nosology to account for age-related issues, including changes in social functioning, and the effects of comorbid illness and cognitive impairment. They propose that the development of a geriatric subclassification for PD, along with improved clinical documentation of personality and data from dimensional instruments for both normal and pathologic personalities, would provide a more reliable, valid, and geriatric-friendly diagnostic process.

Note: Article Agronin ME, Miami Jewish Home & Hosp Aged, 5200 NE 2nd Ave, Miami,FL 33137 USA

Keyword(s): DSM-III-R; FOLLOW-UP; GERIATRIC DEPRESSION; AGE; HISTORY; ADULTS

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