On the gerontopsychiatric ward, mental disorders in old age are diagnosed and treated. Age-related illnesses, and in particular mental disorders, will play an increasing role in our society in the coming years.

Gerontopsychiatric illnesses can manifest in varying degrees: they range, for example, from the onset of mild memory and orientation disorders to severe organic brain syndromes, or from mild low moods and dejection to severe depression.

For depressive disorders, but also for memory and orientation disorders, forms of treatment have developed in recent years that can lead to a noticeable improvement in quality of life even in old age. Treatment at our clinic consists of an individually tailored combination of medication, psychotherapeutic and social-psychiatric measures.

Examples of illnesses

Declining mental performance

The decline in memory and disturbances of orientation, thinking, judgement, language and planned action are often regarded as "normal ageing", especially when these brain function disorders occur in old age. In many cases, however, a treatable illness is the underlying cause, which is hardly known to many of those affected and their relatives. With modern diagnostic procedures, the causes of dementia can usually be clarified and, in many cases, remedied.

Depression

Low moods, sadness, hopelessness, sleep disturbances, reduced appetite, dejection, loss of interest and social withdrawal, but also suicidal thoughts (suicidality), are just some examples of the signs of depression in old age. Treatment of the underlying physical causes (e.g. cerebral circulatory disorders), and also medication acting directly on the mental function disorders of the brain, is possible for depression in old age. Early therapy with mood-improving and calming medicines can be life-saving, for example in the case of suicidality. The term "psychotropic drug" (Psychopharmakon) – meaning a medicine that acts positively on the psyche – is therefore, given the good treatment outcomes, unjustly a trigger word. In addition, psychotherapeutic treatment methods are used, with the help of which many patients succeed in mobilising their own abilities to prevent and combat depressive symptoms. If you have any questions, please contact our gerontopsychiatric outpatient clinic: Tel.: 0391-67 13483