Geriatric Mental Health Care

This essential guide is designed for mental health practitioners and primary care providers without advanced training in geriatric psychiatry. Leading geriatric psychiatrist Gary J. Kennedy sets forth a clear framework f... Les mer

Geriatric Mental Health Care

This essential guide is designed for mental health practitioners and primary care providers without advanced training in geriatric psychiatry. Leading geriatric psychiatrist Gary J. Kennedy sets forth a clear framework for understanding the interplay of medical, psychological, and social factors in frequently encountered problems among older adults. Clear guidelines are delineated for assessing and treating such conditions as depression and anxiety, dementia, psychosis and mania, sleep disturbances, personality and somatoform disorders, substance abuse, and suicidality. Throughout, Kennedy focuses on ways to sustain seniors' independence and overall quality of life while enhancing their adaptive capacities.

Introduction to the Geriatric Imperative. Depression and Anxiety. The Dementias. Psychosis and Mania. Sleep Disturbances. Personality, Somatoform, and Pain Disorders. Individual Psychotherapies for Older Adults. Adapting Principles of Marital, Group, and Family Therapy to the Needs of Older Patients. Sexuality. Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Self-Injurious Behaviors. Alcohol and Substance Abuse. Recognition and Reduction of Suicide Risk. Mental Health Consultation in the General Hospital, Home, or Nursing Facility. Legal and Ethical Issues. Advice on Exercise and Nutrition.

Gary J. Kennedy, MD, is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Director of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and the Psychogeriatric Fellowship Training Program at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York. He is also Supervising Psychiatrist of the Geriatric Unit at Bronx Psychiatric Center. More than 30 psychiatrists have completed geriatric training under his direction. Dr. Kennedy's research and teaching have focused on cardiac arrhythmias, the epidemiology of depression and dementia, and mental health care in nursing homes and in the community.
Lukk