Psychiatric condition?

Question

hello, im looking for some advise on a parent who is 70 yo and showing increased signs including nastyness, hostility,agression, threats, over active construction, such as climbing on a roof to refinish it and with no signs of fatigue instead an unbelieveable amount of energy. Sometimes the moods are more normal but many times its what i mentioned above. Also this person seems to be a story teller and wants to talk to anyone who gives him attention even when its totally unappropriate and usually inflates or makes up storys to get attention or get sympathy. When we suggest a doctor or a hospital he gets very nasty and defensive and its scary. Please offer any advise as this is driving my mom and I crazy and we are fearfull most of the time of his behavior, that it may be dangerous to others, Thank You, J.

Answer 1

sounds like bipolar and/or JUST GETTING OLD....alot of elderly people make up or exaggerate stories, nastiness, hostility.

nursing home or assisted living?

Answer 2

It is not possible to make an accurate assessement of somebody's mental state from such little evidence and without face to face contact. The first thing I would want to establish is: does this person have a history of such behaviour. The presentation may suggest a mood disorder -overactivity, overtalkative with garrulous speech content, social disinhibition, aggression are all consistent with a hypermanic mood state - but for this to become manifest for the first time at age 70 in practically unheard of. If pressed to offer something I would have to say I suspected an 'organic' cause - this means a change in brain chemistry or structure, and is more consistent with the person's age. This doesn't necessarily mean dementia - it could also be associated with brain chemistry changes secondary to some other physical illness (such as severe infection) - but usually there would also be signs of confusion and disorientation. The person's 'pre-morbid' personality is also significant - is this behaviour completely out of character?

I'm assuming you are in the US - not many Brits use 'Mom' - so I don't know enough about the health services to advise. I would say that an assessment of this person is needed with some urgency - but I accept that it is difficult when the person is hostile to the idea. The bottom line is Safety of the person and of others - if the situation gets so far out of hand that you are in real fear for his safety, your Mum's or your own - then the only recourse is to call the police. This seems drastic but I know from my professional experience that it is often the only way that some people get the help they desperately need.

Good Luck

Answer 3

We have been going through this with my step mother, she has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and dementia. She has become mean and nasty and makes up stories, like about people breaking into the house. Then she tells people at the bank about how my dead father wasn't loved by his mother, totally off subject. We are right now putting her into an assisted living home because the doctor says she is a danger to herself. Get him to a doctor one way or another.

Answer 4

It could be dementia. Maybe you can call your doctor's office and ask for options in this situation. You may want to try calling a state social services agency.

My mom was kind of like that when she got dementia, but she wasn't so disagreeable about going to the doctor.

Answer 5

This person is insane and the only way he will get better is with medication and psychotherapy. You need to get him to a mental hospital soon before he kills or injures himself or others.