Skip to main content
Log in

Geriatric Psychiatry Inpatient Primer for Residents

Academic Psychiatry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

The authors describe a novel curricular intervention that enhances first- and second-year psychiatry residents’ geriatric psychiatry knowledge while preparing them for overnight call.

Methods

A brief, four-page document covering evaluation and management of common clinical scenarios in older adults, including agitation, falls, insomnia, chest pain, abnormal vital signs, and review of pharmacologic interventions, was presented to first- and second-year psychiatry residents. The residents completed an anonymous survey including their comfort level in answering pages and knowledge-based questions regarding evidence-based interventions both before and after the intervention. The pre-survey and post-survey were analyzed using the Wilcoxon-signed rank test, paired T test, and Mann-Whitney U test.

Results

The residents demonstrated statistically significant changes in first-line medication choices for common clinical scenarios such as non-aggressive agitation and insomnia. They were less likely to choose medications that should be avoided in elderly based on expert panel recommendations.

Conclusions

Findings support the need for educational interventions designed to help residents taking call with geriatric patients. The results demonstrated an improvement in clinical knowledge following this brief intervention.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Mason J, Irani T, Fountoulaki G, Warwick S, da Roza Davis J, Sudbury P. Psychiatry at night: experience of the senior house officer. Psychiatr Bull. 2006;30(9):329–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Cooke BK, Cooke EO, Sharfstein SS. Evaluating the workload of on-call psychiatry residents: which activities are associated with sleep loss? Acad Psychiatry. 2012;36(1):43–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Nasca TJ, Day SH, Amis ES. The new recommendations on duty hours from the ACGME task force. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(2):e3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hategan A, Bourgeois JA, Hirsch C. On-call geriatric psychiatry: handbook of principles and practice. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing; 2016. p. 231–49.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  5. Juul D, Colenda CC, Lyness JM, Dunn LB, Hargrave R, Faulkner LR. Subspecialty training and certification in geriatric psychiatry: a 25-year overview. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2017;25:445–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Eden J, Maslow K, Le M, et al. The mental health and substance use workforce for older adults: In Whose hands? Washington: National Academies Press; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Salzman C, Jeste DV, Meyer RE, Cohen-Mansfield J, Cummings J, Grossberg GT, et al. Elderly patients with dementia-related symptoms of severe agitation and aggression: consensus statement on treatment options, clinical trials methodology, and policy. J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;69(6):889–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Fick DM, Semla TP, Beizer J, et al. American Geriatrics Society 2015 updated beers criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults 2015. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2015;63(11):2227–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Lieff SJ, Clarke D. What factors contribute to senior psychiatry residents’ interest in geriatric psychiatry? A Delphi study. Can J Psychiatr. 2000;45:912–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the University of Texas Southwestern psychiatry residents who participated in the surveys, as well as the North Texas Veterans Affairs Hospital in Dallas, TX for serving as the teaching site where we conducted this study. This does not imply the endorsement of data or conclusions from either institution.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nishina A. Thomas.

Ethics declarations

Residents who participated in the surveys were informed that participation was voluntary.

Ethical Considerations

According to local guidelines (SOP 151-100) of the Dallas VA Medical Center, this study did not meet criteria for human subjects research and therefore was exempt from IRB review.

Disclosures

The authors declare the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Thomas, N.A., Van Enkevort, E., Garrett, R.K. et al. Geriatric Psychiatry Inpatient Primer for Residents. Acad Psychiatry 43, 585–589 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-019-01080-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-019-01080-4

Keywords

Navigation