Clinical assessment in old age psychiatry

Assessment in the elderly psychiatric population requires a particular focus on cognition and co-morbid physical illness. Although there can be differences in the way that psychiatric illnesses manifest in younger and older adults, a structured approach to history-taking with a clear understanding of the diagnostic hierarchy of the psychiatric disorders allows for a clear formulation of psychiatric conditions. For organic conditions, there should be emphasis on correctly identifying cognitive and neurobehavioural deficits, as well as an assessment of the 'real-world' impact of such problems, which will in turn inform management.