Geriatric and Pediatric Psychiatry

Geriatric psychiatry:

Geriatric psychiatry is a specialty focused on the prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders in older people. These disorders include dementia, sleep disorders, anxiety, and late-life depression and psychosis. With the right treatment, seniors can manage mental and emotional disorders and improve their physical health and quality of life.

Awareness of Geriatric Psychiatric Symptoms:

• Grief over the death of a spouse, family member, or friend
• Severe depression or anxiety that affects their ability to function
• Intense fear of a terminal illness or death
• Behavioral issues such as agitation, repetitive behaviors, outbursts, or mood swings
• Lack of self-esteem or confidence
• Feelings of loneliness, isolation, and lack of purpose

Pediatric psychiatry:

Pediatric psychiatry is a specialty focused on the biological, psychological, and social components of child and adolescent behavioral, emotional, developmental, and mental health disorders. Psychiatric disorders among children are common, though often underdiagnosed.

The most common children and adolescent psychiatric conditions include:

• ADHD
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Conduct disorder (CD)
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Tourette syndrome 
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)