Survey on psychosomatic treatment options in geriatric clinical routine: state of the art

Abstract

Mental and physical disorders form acommon body of experience and suffering in old age that can negatively influence aging. Experience and handling of age-associated functional impairments are challenging for multimorbid patients, their relatives and the healthcare providers involved. Among patients aged 70years or older more than 50% suffer from psychopathological symptoms and 30-40% of geriatric inpatients have apsychosomatic or psychiatric comorbidity; however, despite this high prevalence of mental problems in older patients they are hardly ever treated and if treatment is offered it is carried out by specialists for somatic medicine. The aim of the present study of the working group on gerontopsychosomatics of the German Geriatric Society (DGG) was the evaluation of interdisciplinary co-management opportunities for geriatricians who treat inpatients with gerontopsychosomatic needs. Online survey among members of the DGG regarding experiences with interdisciplinary co-management of inpatients with gerontopsychosomatic needs. The majority of the respondents were senior physicians in a department for geriatrics. While every second institution had access to a psychiatric consultation service, psychosomatic cooperation was only offered in every fifth department. Psychosomatic co-management was particularly required in connection with neurogeriatric problems. There is need of gerontopsychosomatic co-management among geriatric inpatients; however, in comparison to gerontopsychiatric co-management the options are deficient and need to be strengthened.