Navigating the road to wisdom: advanced insights into bipolar disorder in the elderly

This course aims to enhance psychiatrists’ understanding of the specificities and complexities of bipolar disorder in the elderly. The session will be organized into several thematic parts:

1. Introduction and Overview

2. Theoretical Foundations

• Clinical Specificities: Discuss unique characteristics, including subtle manic symptoms and severe depressive episodes.
• Differential Diagnosis: Explore challenges in differentiating bipolar disorder from dementia and depression due to chronic illnesses.
• Comorbidity Management: Address how medical comorbidities influence clinical presentation and treatment.

3. Interactive Case Studies

• Case Study Discussions: Present real-life cases for diagnosis and treatment plan development.

4. Treatment Approaches

• Medication Management: Discuss mood stabilizers and antipsychotics, emphasizing caution and monitoring.
• Non-Pharmacological Approaches: Explore psychotherapy, family support.

5. Role-Playing Exercises

• Scenario-Based Role-Playing: Practice diagnosing and managing bipolar disorder with role-playing exercises.
• Feedback and Discussion: Provide feedback and highlight key learning points.

7. Evaluation and Closing

Course Directors:  Pierre Lavaud, France and Thomas Desmidt, France