Constipation in elderly patients with psychiatric disorders

• Main Authors: Naresh Nebhinani, Navratan Suthar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017-01-01
• Series: Journal of Geriatric Mental Health
• Subjects: Constipation; elderly; management; prevention; psychiatric disorders
• Online Access: http://www.jgmh.org/article.asp?issn=2348-9995;year=2017;volume=4;issue=1;spage=11;epage=17;aulast=Nebhinani

Constipation is a common complaint among the elderly patients with psychiatric disorders because of age.related physiologic and anatomical changes, lifestyle factors, comorbid physical and surgical disorders, medications, including psychotropics, and polypharmacy. Lack of timely reporting by patients as well as inadequate expertise of physician may contribute to significant delay in treatment and poor quality of life. Primary constipation is amenable to lifestyle modification. (dietary changes, exercise, and physical activity), fiber intake, and laxatives when necessary. Secondary constipation should be treated with managing underlying pathology or predisposing factors, including effective treatment of psychiatric disorders and rationalizing psychotropic prescription. This review article focuses on the definition, etiology, assessment, treatment, and prevention of constipation in elderly population with mental illness.