Psychiatry and psychotherapy of the elderly is an additional area of expertise within psychiatry and psychotherapy. It is closely linked to other specialist fields, particularly geriatrics.
In conjunction with other medical specialties, psychiatry and psychotherapy of the elderly promotes and administers measures that will safeguard and improve the mental health and quality of life of the ageing population.
Doctors who are specially trained in this field work on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders and diseases that specifically occur among the elderly. This includes diagnosing and treating elderly patients who have impaired cognitive function, memory disorders, behavioural disorders and dementia.
Mentally ill elderly patients and their environments are expertly monitored and supported, and the ageing process is taken into account during care and treatment from a biological, psychological and social perspective.