[Psychopharmacotherapy in advanced age].

In recent years, psychopharmacotherapy in the elderly has been advanced by the introduction of newly developed drugs with high effectiveness and good tolerability. However, up to now these advances have not yet led to a broad change in the psychopharmacological treatment of elderly patients. Elderly patients with psychiatric disorders are frequently treated with older drugs, which have a high risk of side effects and drug interactions. The consequences are severe complications, such as falls or delirious episodes. In this article, general aspects of psychopharmacotherapy in the elderly will be briefly summarized. Special aspects of the treatment with antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, phase prophylactics and antidementives will be discussed in detail and recommendations for treatment will be given.