|
|
Article: Treating pain improves cognition in the elderly: it is not always appreciated that pain can increase anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment.(Geriatrics)
- Article from:
- Internal Medicine News
- Article date:
- June 15, 2008
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 International Medical News Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
ORLANDO -- Pain is a comorbid condition too often overlooked in the setting of geriatric psychiatry, despite the potential for better mental health outcomes when it is treated, Dr. Jordan F. Karp said at the annual meeting of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.
"I don't think enough attention is paid to assessing, diagnosing, and managing pain by many psychiatrists and other physicians who treat older adults," he said in an interview. "I highly doubt that clinicians are aware of the effects of pain on cognition."
Because pain has reached "epidemic" proportions among the elderly and can significantly worsen cognition and depression, it ...