Overview

This text emphasises an interdisciplinary approach to the assessment and treatment of older adults. It highlights a """"whole person"""" model of care rather than assessing and treating symptoms or syndromes in isolation. The emphasis is both research-based and clinically-practical, emphasising five core factors of psychosocial impairment in older adults--depression, anxiety, cognitive deficits, adjustment or life problems, and health issues. These provide an understanding of the older adult likely to result in successful outcomes for common syndromes or problems at later life. In this effort the transdiagnostic approach to psychological health care is advocated. Importantly, the book describes the unique components and complex interactive influences of these five factors as they apply to older adults seeking mental health. The key involves a deliberative Watch and Wait model where treatment is based on careful case-based assessment and a considered monitoring for before and during empirically supported interventions. This model trumps the usual fix-em-up, shoot-from-the-hip interventions, seeking quick cures. Each factor is addressed from its empirical supported basis as applied to older adults, as well as its interaction with the other factors. Distinct treatment modules are isolated for each factor and reasonable pathways to clinical problems are provided. The text addresses the unique difficulties of diagnosing the aging population, the pitfalls of existing treatments, and the need for brain-based models for care. Also covered are the importance of primary medicine, issues of daily life adjustment, use of SSRIs and other medications, suicide, subsyndromal states, the use of cognitive behavioural therapy, promising models of caregiving and long-term care, as well as the psychological treatment of older adults from an economic perspective. Plentiful case examples and call-outs enhance information. Key Features: Advocates for integrative care, interdisciplinary activity, and primary care involvement for the older adult Demonstrates how a single problem approach for older adults with psychiatric problems is not effective or efficient care Espouses a """"Watch and Wait"""" paradigm of care, based on person-centred diagnosis and monitoring Emphasises core components of care, depression, anxiety, cognition, pain/sleep/health issues, adjustment in the community Provides evidence for psychotherapy and assessment as a necessary features of care

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9780826195913

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Leon A. Hyer, PhD, is Professor of Psychiatry and Health Behavior at the Mercer School of Medicine, USA and the Georgia Neurosurgical Institute. He is board certified in psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). Dr. Hyer is a fellow of several divisions of the American Psychological Association; International Society of Traumatic Stress; and the Gerontological Society of America. He has been a Professor of Psychiatry for many years at the Medical College of Georgia and Veterans Administration, and at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson. He is the recipient of several awards in the VA, as well as the Distinguished Researcher award from Psychologists in Long-Term Care (2005) and Mentor of the Year, APA Division of Clinical Psychology (2007). His professional contributions are comprised of over 200 articles and book chapters, and three books. He has been the clinical editor of several journals, as well as a reviewer. He currently has several grants on topics ranging from pain, cognitive training, cognitive assessment, and depression/anxiety, all related to older adults.

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