Personality disorders - From negelect to recognition in geriatrics

Introduction Personality disorders are characterized by enduring and maladaptive patterns of behaviour, cognition, and emotional regulation since adolescence. Personality disorders are common in the community, but remain often unrecognized in geriatric care while linked to multimorbidity and higher care use. Moreover, these patients are known to have difficulties in expressing their actual physical symptoms, 2) present with challenging behavior in health care settings, in particular non-compliance. Objectives To summarize empirical evidence on personality diagnosis and treatment, in order to identify the most important research gaps in this field.Method Expert review of the literature (Oude Voshaar & Van Dijk, in press). Results As recently summarized by Oude Voshaar & Van Dijk (in press), empirical evidence on personality diagnosis and treatment in older adults is scarce. Future endeavours endeavors for geriatric mental health care include the development of age-inclusive diagnostic tools, tailoring evidence-based treatment approaches to older people, and encouraging participation of older people with personality disorders in studies using novel technologies like real-time monitoring. Conclusion As recently summarized by Oude Voshaar & Van Dijk (in press), empirical evidence on personality diagnosis and treatment in older adults is scarce. Future endeavours endeavors for geriatric mental health care include the development of age-inclusive diagnostic tools, tailoring evidence-based treatment approaches to older people, and encouraging participation of older people with personality disorders in studies using novel technologies like real-time monitoring.