Abstract

PEREIRA, Fernanda Speggiorin; APARICIO, Marco A. Moscoso; FELICIO, Jonia Lacerda  and  BASSITT, Débora Pastore. Personality disorders in an elderly patient. Rev. psiquiatr. clín. [online]. 2007, vol.34, n.1, pp. 18-22. ISSN 0101-6083.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832007000100003.

CONTEXT: Interpersonal difficulties, affective instability, distortions of the clinician-patient relationship, and unpredictable responses to clinical interventions, are characteristics found in older adults as well as in younger patients with personality disorders. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 68 years old patient with histrionic personality disorder and other psychiatric comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Personality disorders are frequently overlooked in the diagnostic workout of complex psychogeriatric syndromes, and require a comprehensive assessment of personality traits. The correct identification of personality disorders and their subtypes is critical for planning the therapeutic approach, including pharmacotherapy and psychological management.

Keywords : Personality disorders; elderly; diagnosis; comorbities.