Geriatric Psychiatry - Articles

Clinical Update

Prescribing Medications for Sleep Disorders in Older Adults

June 12, 2025

Evelina Sterina, MD, MSc, Julia Golden, MD, and Grace Ma, MD

Evelina Sterina, MD, MSc; Julia Golden, MD; Grace Ma, MD. Brigham & Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School Psychiatry Residency, Boston, MA.

Drs. Sterina, Golden, and Ma have no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Sleep disorders affect nearly half of adults over 65, impairing quality of life and increasing risks of cognitive decline, mood disorders, falls, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

Risks in Older Adults

Impacts of Climate Change on Mental Health

April 1, 2025

Suellen Breakey, PhD, Kathryn Kieran, MSN, PMHNP-BC, and Patrice K. Nicholas, DNSc, DHL (Hon)

Suellen Breakey, PhD. Distinguished Teaching Associate Professor; Associate Director, Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice, and Health; School of Nursing, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA.

Kathryn Kieran, MSN, PMHNP-BC. Instructor, School of Nursing, MGH Institute of Health Professions.

Patrice K. Nicholas, DNSc, DHL (Hon). Distinguished Teaching Professor; Director, Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice, and Health; School of Nursing, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA.

Dr. Breakey, Ms. Kieran, and Dr. Nicholas have no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Rising temperatures and extreme weather aren’t just environmental concerns—they’re mental health risks. We explore the growing evidence linking climate change to psychiatric symptoms in older populations and strategies to mitigate these stressors in vulnerable communities.

Expert Q&A

Sleep and Senescence: Managing Sleep Disorders in Older Adults

April 1, 2025

Ellen Lee, MD

Ellen Lee, MD, Estelle and Edgar Levi Memorial Chair in Aging, Associate Professor, and Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego; Staff Psychiatrist, San Diego VA Healthcare System, San Diego, CA.

Dr. Lee has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Dr. Lee shares her clinical experience on identifying and managing sleep issues as part of aging, including her algorithms to prioritize treatments.

Learning Objectives, Sleep Disorders, CGPR, April/May/June 2025

April 1, 2025

After reading these articles, you should be able to…

Enhancing Antidepressant Efficacy in Older Adults

April 1, 2025

Jaime A.B. Wilson, PhD, ABN

Jaime A.B. Wilson, PhD, ABN. Dr. Wilson has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

It’s not just finding the antidepressant—dose, duration, and augmentation strategies matter.

Research Update

Lithium Therapy in Older Adults: Expert Recommendations

April 1, 2025

Eli Neustadter, MD, MSc.

Eli Neustadter, MD. Dr. Neustadter has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

What are the best practices for using lithium in older adults? This update outlines dosing strategies, monitoring protocols, and emerging safety data.

Risks in Older Adults

Insomnia and Sleep Medications

April 1, 2025

Talia Puzantian, PharmD, BCPP and Shireen Wissa, PharmD

Shireen Wissa, PharmD candidate and Talia Puzantian, PharmD, BCPP. Keck Graduate Institute School of Pharmacy, Claremont, CA.

Ms. Wissa and Dr. Puzantian have no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Examining the long-term impacts of common sleep aids in older adults should urge a rethinking of prescribing practices.

Expert Q&A

Applications of Brief Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia in Geriatric Psychiatry

April 1, 2025

Daniel J. Buysse, MD

Daniel J. Buysse, MD, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine, and Clinical and Translational Science; UPMC Endowed Chair in Sleep Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA. Co-author of Treating Sleep Problems: A Transdiagnostic Approach (Guilford Press; 2017).

Dr. Buysse receives licensing fees for the Consensus Sleep Diary, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Addendum for PTSD (PSQI-A), Brief Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (B-PSQI), Daytime Insomnia Symptoms Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Diary, Insomnia Symptom Questionnaire, and Ru-SATED. He receives consulting fees from Sleep Number and Synchronicity Pharma. Relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

Dr. Buysse discusses the advantages of Brief Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia (BBTI) in geriatric populations. Learn how this time-efficient, evidence-based approach helps older adults improve sleep without medications—ideal for busy clinical settings.

Expert Q&A

Complexities of Elder Abuse

February 17, 2025

Elizabeth (EJ) Santos, MD, MPH

Elizabeth (EJ) Santos, MD, MPH

Associate professor of psychiatry, neurology & medicine; clinical chief, division of geriatric mental health & memory care, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.

Dr. Santos has no financial relationships with companies related to this material.

Elder abuse often hides in plain sight. Dr. Elizabeth Santos unpacks its complexities—how to recognize the subtle signs, distinguish abuse from mental health conditions, and intervene effectively. Learn key strategies to protect vulnerable older adults and ensure their voices are heard.