Aging and mania.

Geriatric psychiatry involves the study of the interaction of age, medical illnesses, psychopathology, and treatment responsivity. Many of these interactions are demonstrated by reviewing mania in the elderly. Studying geriatric aspects of psychiatric disorders may give clues to understanding the pathophysiology of the same disorder in younger patients. For instance, localization of lesions associated with late onset mania suggests brain areas which may be involved in the early onset form of bipolar affective disorder. Reviewing the use of lithium in the elderly patient with mania provides the opportunity to review general geriatric psychopharmacologic principles.