RESUMO
Personality disorders are among the most common mental disorders in older age and are associated with a range of negative outcomes in physical and emotional health as well as in interpersonal functioning. Several screening tools have been validated with older patients and can aid in diagnosis. The presence of a personality disorder is associated with increased risk of cognitive decline, and cognitive disorders may mimic personality disorders. As a result, an evaluation of cognitive function is an essential part of assessing for a personality disorder. Emerging evidence points to the promise of dialectical behavioral therapy and schema therapy for older patients with personality disorders. Second-generation antipsychotics and mood stabilizers have been found to be effective for some personality disorders in the general adult population, but no such studies have been conducted with older adults.
RESUMO
Stress- and anxiety-related disorders are on the rise in both military and general populations. Over the next decade, it is predicted that treatment of these conditions, in particular, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), along with its associated long-term comorbidities, will challenge the health care system. Multiple organ systems are adversely affected by PTSD, and PTSD is linked to cancer, arthritis, digestive disease, and cardiovascular disease. Evidence for a strong link between PTSD and cardiovascular disease is compelling, and this review describes current clinical data linking PTSD to cardiovascular disease, via inflammation, autonomic dysfunction, and the renin-angiotensin system. Recent clinical and preclinical evidence regarding the role of the renin-angiotensin system in the extinction of fear memory and relevance in PTSD-related immune and autonomic dysfunction is also addressed.
