Psychopharmacological treatment of elderly demented patients.

Elderly demented patients often suffer from accompanying psychiatric symptoms, including disturbances of mood and behavior, that may respond to psychotropic drug treatment. Despite the wide use of several medication groups--including antipsychotics, antidepressants, and sedative-hypnotics--data from double-blind clinical trials are limited. Some relevant controlled studies are reviewed, and guidelines for treatment based on the available data and clinical experience are described. Elderly demented patients can be treated psychopharmacologically. The choice of medication depends partly on its side effects. Initial dosages for the elderly should be lower than for younger adults.