J Korean Soc Biol Ther Psychiatry.  2023 Oct;29(3):53-60. 10.22802/jksbtp.2023.29.3.53.

Fall Risk Assessment and Fall Prevention Intervention in Elderly Psychiatric Patients

• Jang S

• KMID: 2547839
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22802/jksbtp.2023.29.3.53

Abstract

The fall rate in geriatric psychiatric patients is higher than in adult patients with other diseases. Although the incidence of deaths and severe injuries from falls has decreased over the past several decades, falls remain an issue requiring clinical attention, considering the impact of falls on patients’ performance of daily living and the burden of fall-related injury. The author reviewed studies published over the past ten years to learn about falls in geriatric psychiatric patients. Many studies showed that physical functions such as gait, balance ability, and muscle strength were important fall risk factors in geriatric psychiatric patients. Clinicians should comprehensively evaluate fall risk through screening using an appropriate measure for psychiatric patients, physical function examination, and medication review. Fall prevention can be achieved effectively through environmental interventions considering the characteristics of psychiatric treatment settings and individual interventions focusing on the patient’s modifiable factors.

Keyword

Accidental falls; Risk assessment; Risk management; Aged; Psychiatry