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Sleep disturbances and agitational states in the elderly. Therapeutic possibilities and limitations in West Germany
Author(s) -
Kanowski S.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1986.tb10540.x
Subject(s) - sleep disorder , disturbance (geology) , chloral hydrate , sleep (system call) , medicine , isolation (microbiology) , psychiatry , psychotropic agent , insomnia , operating system , paleontology , computer science , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
‐ Sleep disturbance is common in the elderly. The causes of sleep disturbance are varied, and no single treatment can be successful in all cases. Psychotropic drugs and hypnotics are the drugs most frequently prescribed to the elderly in West Germany. The indications for using benzodiazepines, chlormethiazole, butyrophenones and chloral hydrate are discussed. However, in all cases the underlying cause of the sleep disturbance should be sought rather than treating the symptoms in isolation.