However, late-onset bipolar patients have a lower rate of familial affective disorders. Individual may have had one or more major depressive attacks. Characterized by fluctuating periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms but not meeting criteria for mania or depression. Often, these patients are mentally retarded. 4 Psychopathology Elderly patients have different signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder than do younger people.
Mania is attenuated, with less flight of ideas and milder manic symptoms.
Hostility and resentment are more frequent, with increased concomitant depressive features after a manic episode. Cognitive dysfunction occurs more frequently in older manic patients, with disorientation and delirium. The drug of choice for treating mania in the geriatric patient is lithium. Complications include osteoporosis, uncontrolled hypertension, and kidney function deterioration. Lithium may have a role in development of parathyroid adenoma.