Older patients with schizophrenia: Challenges in the coming decades

The number and proportion of older adults with schizophrenia will increase considerably in the coming decades, Although a vast literature on schizophr enia among younger adults exists, much less is known. about late-life schiz ophrenia and its treatment. The authors describe two potential scenarios fo r 2011, the year that the first baby boomers will turn 65. To ensure that t he more favorable scenario becomes a reality, the authors suggest four goal s: decrease medical comorbidity and mortality among younger patients with s chizophrenia and improve their access to health care so that they can live longer and more productive lives; improve our understanding of the neurobio logical and psychosocial factors underlying late-life schizophrenia, as wel l as the health care and social service needs of such patients; develop mor e effective and safer pharmacologic, psychosocial, and cognitive behavioral treatments; and improve rehabilitation of older people with schizophrenia. Specific strategies to foster these goals include establishing a consortiu m for studies of late-life schizophrenia; conducting multicenter studies of treatment effectiveness; and forming interdisciplinary collaborations amon g researchers, clinicians, government and industry representatives, and pat ient advocacy groups.