This article, written by Sidhesh Phaldessai, provides an overview of geriatric psychopharmacology, including the epidemiology of mental health disorders in the older population, the physiological changes that occur with ageing and their impact on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and the use of psychotropic medications in older adults
Medicines non-adherence – Is it the patient’s problem?
Katrina Azer, a clinical pharmacist for Tend Health, looks at reasons why patients don’t take their medicines correctly and how health professionals can address it
1 - Martini ND, Van der Werf B, Bassett-Clarke B. Primary medication non-adherence at Counties Manukau Health Emergency Department (CMH-ED), New Zealand: an observational study BMJ Open 2020;10:e035775. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035775
2 - World Health Organization. Adherence to Long-Term Therapies - Evidence for Action. 2003. [Cited: 23 August 2021]. Available at: https://www.who.int/chp/knowledge/publications/adherence_full_report.pdf.
3 - World Health Organization. Social Determinants of health. https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1)