COVID-19 and mental health: Impact on symptom burden in older people living with mental illness in residential aged care.

Objectives: COVID-19-related restrictions for residential aged care (RAC) have been significant. However, the mental health impacts for residents already living with mental illness remain poorly understood. In this study, we examined change in mental health symptom burden for this group and potential associations with clinical and contextual factors.

Successful treatment of behavioural problems in dementia using a cholinesterase inhibitor: the ethical questions.

Objective: To review the effect of cholinesterase inhibitors on the behavioural and neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia and discuss the current clinical guidelines for the prescription of cholinesterase inhibitors in Australia.

Method: This paper reports the case of a patient with clinical diagnosis of dementia with lewy bodies (DLB) who was referred to an old age psychiatry service for the treatment of severe visual hallucinations and behavioural problems.

Results: Pharmacological treatment with olanzapine produced marked parkinsonism, agitation and confusion.