ABSTRACT
There are many situations in which an immediate psychiatric assessment will help in managing the problems of the elderly. Delirium is one of the most common causes of behavioral problems among the elderly in the general medical, surgical, and postoperative wards. Suicidal behavior is more planned and deliberate among the elderly than among others, and the means used are often lethal. The identification and adequate treatment of depression can indeed prevent a number of suicides among the elderly. In the elderly, the symptoms might often suggest causes such as a "heart attack", and the fluctuating intensity of the symptoms may complicate the task of making a correct diagnosis. In most cases of psychiatric emergencies in the elderly, a thorough medical evaluation is warranted to identify the causes of the abnormal behavior. The pharmacological management of the patient should be tailor-made to meet the special needs of older people.
