[Pharmacotherapy in older adults with personality disorders: a new area of attention].

BACKGROUND

Pharmacotherapy in older adults with personality disorders (PD) is a new and important area of attention. Nowadays, symptom based pharmacotherapy in older adults with PD is based on multidisciplinary guidelines, which are constructed on research performed in patients up to 50 years of age. There is no specific guideline for older adults with PD.

GOAL: Providing a description of patient characteristics: number of comorbid psychiatric disorders, use of medication, including polypharmacy, in older adults (≥ 65 years) with personality disorders.

METHOD: A retrospective cross-sectional patient file study (n = 50) in a clinical center of excellence for older adults with personality disorders (outpatient setting).

RESULTS

. From the file study, it appears that 1) the unspecified/other specified personality disorder and the borderline personality disorder (BPD) occur most frequently, 2) there is a trend (no significant difference) that older adults with BPS use most medication (somatic medication and psychotropics) and 3) there is a trend (no significant difference) that polypharmacy is the most prevalent amongst older adults with BPD.

CONCLUSION

The use of medication in certain subgroups of older adults with PD tends to be high. Further research is necessary to optimize pharmacotherapy in older adults with PD.