PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY STUDIES IN AFFECTIVE DISORDERS,

ANXIETY DISORDERS, AND IN THE ELDERLY

Psychopharmacology Studies in Affective Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, and in the Elderly1

Clinical Psychopharmacology Service, Massachusetts Mental Health Center

Carl Salzman, M.D.Salzman, Carl,

 

The Clinical Psychopharmacology Program at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center conducts several ongoing studies of new and the standard psychotropic drugs in a variety of clinical populations. Most of the research is focused directly on the use of antidepressants in selected populations, with special reference to the elderly and very elderly person. The program also studies anxiety disorders, antianxiety agents, dependence phenomena, and withdrawal. At present, several studies are focusing on the effects antipsychotics and other drugs in the treatment of psychosis, and agitation in the demented elderly nursing home resident.

One particular focus of the research program within the Clinical Psychopharmacology Service of the Massachusetts Mental Health Center is a collaborative effort studying the diagnosis and treatment of depression and dysphoric states in the very elderly (over 80). Subjects for the study are residents of the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged, and the study is being conducted with Drs. Andrew Satlin, Adam Burrows, and Ken Nobel.

A new project, just beginning within the Psychopharmacology Service, is the evaluation of interactive video for the diagnosis, management, and consultation of chronic and persistent mentally ill patients, and associated movement disorders. This project is being conducted in collaboration with Tewksbury State Hospital.

Grant Support. SmithKline Beecham, Inc.; Bristol-Myers Squibb, Inc.; Zeneca Pharmaceuticals; Eli Lilly Inc.

Project Sites. Massachusetts Mental Health Center; Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged; Tewksbury State Hospital.

Project Director. Carl Salzman, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School.

Contact Person: Carl Salzman, M.D., 74 Fenwood Road, Boston MA 02115. Tel: (617) 232-1113; Fax: (617) 730-9748.

Training Opportunities. This is a program site for the Clinical Research Training Program (HMS/MMHC). Sources of support for residents, or post-doctoral fellows are sometimes available.

Representative Publications.

Salzman C. Clinical Geriatric Psychopharmacology, Second Edition. Williams & Wilkins, 1992.

Salzman C, Fisher J, Nobel K, Glassman R, Wolfson A, Kelly M. Cognitive improvement following benzodiazepine discontinuation in elderly nursing home residents. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 1992;7:89-93.

Salzman C, Vaccaro B, Lieff J, et al. Clozapine in older patients with psychosis and behavioral disruption. Am J Geriatric Psychiatry 1995;3:26-33.

Salzman C. Medication compliance in the elderly. J Clin Psychiatry 1995;56(suppl):18-22.

Salzman C, Satlin A, Burrows AB. Geriatric Psychopharmacology. In: AF Schatzberg and CB Nemeroff (eds). Textbook of Psychopharmacology. American Psychiatric Press 1995, 803-821.

Salzman C, Schneider LS, Alexopoulos G. Pharmacological treatment of depression in late life. In: F Bloom and D Kupfer (eds). Psychopharmacology: Fourth Generation of Progress. Raven Press, In Press.