A Case Study on Polypharmacy and Depression in a 75-Year-Old Woman with Visual Deficits and Charles Bonnet Syndrome

Abstract

Depression is one of the most prevalent pathologies in older adults. Its diagnosis and treatment are complex due to different factors that intervene in its development and progression, including intercurrent organic diseases, perceptual deficits, use of drugs, and psycho-social conditions associated with the aging process. We present the case of a 75-year-old woman (who lives in the community) with a diagnosis of major depression with more than 10 years of history, analyzing her evolution and therapeutic approach.

New Trends in Cognitive Aging and Mild Cognitive Impairment

“…Cognitive status is closely linked to affective states not only in older adults without pathologies, through their own subjective status, but also in older adults with affective disorders such as depression. Caamaño et al (2021) [ 7 ] highlight the frequent interrelation between organic pathologies, depressive symptomatology, and cognitive function in geriatric patients. The prevalence and intensity of affective disorders have increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although not exclusively in the geriatric population.…”

“…Regarding mobility, it is a matter of addressing this problem of falls in a preventive way, either through prevention programs, as proposed by Ries and Carroll [ 13 ], or by anticipating it through metabolic measures in Parkinson’s patients, as proposed by Lauretani et al [ 14 ]. Regarding polypharmacy, it is necessary to understand the complexity of therapeutic approaches and, as highlighted by Caamaño et al [ 7 ], the complexity of the management of these situations in different care systems. In the future, it is expected that the complexity of these situations will increase due to the pressure of population aging, for which the contribution of technologies such as the novel visualization approach proposed by Rizzo et al (2021) [ 10 ] and the natural scenes presented with immersive VR by Orr et al (2021) [ 11 ] will be necessary.…”

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms after Liver Transplantation in a 65-Year-Old Male Patient

“…No SSRIs was prescribed to the study patient, which might seem surprising, given the presence of affective symptoms. The coexistence of other risk factors such as metabolic and cardiac disorders [ 42 ], and the potential increase in the concentration of calcineurin inhibitors and its secondary toxicity or the possibility of inducing paradoxical reactions and hypomania, would justify this decision [ 43 ].…”

Charles Bonnet Syndrome in the Clinic of Mental Disorders

“…Было обнаружено, что оптические устройства, используемые с целью максимизации остаточного зрения, приводят к частичной редукции галлюцинаторной симптоматики. Учитывая факторы риска СШБ, признается целесообразным проводить профилактическое консультирование для социализации данной категории больных [7,20,21]. В случаях, когда галлюцинации негативно влияют на качество жизни пациента, а коррекция зрения оказывается неэффективной или невозможной, то рекомендуется проводить симптоматическую лекарственную терапию.…”