[Clinical evaluation in geriatric psychopharmacology. The point of view of the pharmaceutical industry].

In order to promote optimal characterization of new drugs for the psychogeriatric patient, a clear delineation of both patients and therapies is needed. Diagnostic evaluation of the patient includes a careful differential diagnosis, a definition of target symptoms and an evaluation of severity and stage of disease. Criteria for assessment of drug efficacy must take into account the pharmacological effects of the drug, the hypothesis to be investigated and the target population. Drug assessment should include indicators of drug activity such as physiological, biochemical or psychometric measurements. In order to facilitate progress in geriatric psychopharmacology, full use should be made of the various hypothesis for drug treatment originating from the rapid advancement in our understanding of the biological basis of senile mental incapacitation.