SEVERE MENTAL DISORDER OF LATE ONSET: IDENTIFICATION AND INITIAL MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE FAMILY HEALTH STRATEGY – EXPERIENCE REPORT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/levv17n56-054Keywords:
Primary Health Care, Mental Health, Severe Mental Disorders, Late-Onset Psychosis, Family Health StrategyAbstract
Late-onset severe mental disorders pose a significant challenge to healthcare systems, especially in the context of population aging, due to diagnostic difficulties and the functional and social impact associated with these conditions. Primary Health Care (PHC), through the Family Health Strategy (FHS), occupies a strategic position in the early identification, initial management, and coordination of mental health care. This work aims to report the experience of identifying and initially managing a case of late-onset severe mental disorder within the FHS context. This is a descriptive study, of the experience report type, developed from the experience of residents and preceptors of Family and Community Medicine in the longitudinal follow-up of an elderly user with a severe psychotic episode in 2025. The identification of the case occurred progressively, supported by longitudinal follow-up, knowledge of the territory, and community reports, highlighting the role of PHC in recognizing significant behavioral changes. The management of the case revealed the limitations of exclusive primary health care (PHC) management in situations of high social risk, lack of insight, and persistent refusal of care, demanding intensive coordination with the Psychosocial Care Network and legal authorities. After specialized intervention, longitudinal follow-up in PHC enabled reorganization of care, clinical improvement, and stabilization of the condition. The experience reinforces the centrality of PHC as the coordinator of mental health care and highlights the importance of networking, longitudinality, and a comprehensive approach in the management of severe late-onset mental disorders.
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References
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