Concise Guide To Geriatric Psychiatry

An overview of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of the most important mental health problems of older people. The book discusses depression and mood disorders, cognitive impairment, sexual dysfunction, sleep and pain problems and alcohol and drug abuse.

Pharmacotherapy can improve the quality of life for older adults with psychiatric problems. Yet prescribing is typically complicated by the affects of normal aging, challenges in diagnosis and more. From the editor of the leading textbook on geriatric pharmacology, this quick reference guide presents the vital information needed to develop and monitor safe, effective psychiatric regimens for older adults.

Trainees in subspecialty of geriatric psychiatry and general psychiatry need to master core competencies in geriatric psychiatry in order to practice. This book is designed to provide short-answer question-based learning centering around the core curriculum topics in geriatric psychiatry and is primarily ideal not only for medical students, residents, and fellows, but also for psychiatrists preparing for re-certification. This book features approximately 300 short-answer questions on geriatric psychiatry topics, each comprising the stem of a brief clinical scenario or concise question with expected number of answers. The book also features detailed teaching notes, graphics, and the respective source references. The format is consistently structured from chapter to chapter, practical and concise, and designed to enhance the reader’s diagnostic and management ability and clinical understanding. Each answer includes a concise discussion, pertinent illustrations, and source references. This text is a valuable reference and teaching tool that provides an opportunity for learning across a rapidly growing field. The material covered matches the existing postgraduate curricula in geriatric psychiatry and helps prepare candidates for their specialty and subspecialty certification examinations. The cases map well to both the American Geriatric Psychiatry Association and Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry as well as other international postgraduate curricula. The book covers main topics within geriatric psychiatry, some such as substance use disorders and sexuality and sexual dysfunction in later life. As the Baby Boomers age, this reference will continue to be a valuable staple in geriatric workforce training. Geriatric Psychiatry Study Guide is the ultimate resource for students, residents, fellows, psychiatrists, psychologists, family practitioners, nurses, social workers, and all clinicians rising to the challenges of the mental health segment of the geriatric workforce.

Pharmacotherapy can greatly improve the quality of life of older adults with psychiatric problems. Yet prescribing is typically complicated by the effects of normal aging, challenges in diagnosis, the presence of medical comorbidities, and the use of multiple medications. This quick-reference guide presents the vital information needed to develop and monitor safe, effective psychiatric regimens for older adults. From the editor of the leading textbook on geriatric psychopharmacology, the volume provides handy diagnostic pointers for assessing prevalent symptoms and disorders. It offers concise discussions of commonly used medications, summarizing their benefits and limitations for use with this population. Delineating tried-and-true guidelines to help enhance therapeutic effects while decreasing unwanted side effects, this book belongs at the right hand of all prescribers and caregivers working with older adults. The volume first provides overarching principles for evaluating older adults appropriately, understanding their concerns about medication, and maximizing treatment compliance. Salzman then moves chapter-by-chapter through frequently encountered clinical problems: depression, anxiety, sleep problems, failing memory, and agitation. Chapters describe the clinical presentation of each disorder and enumerate effective assessment strategies. Included are tips for distinguishing between different disorders and recognizing medical and psychiatric comorbidities. Medications used to treat each problem are then reviewed. Emphasizing a "start low, go slow" approach, the book offers practical advice on how to select the right medication, determine starting and maintenance dosages, and anticipate side effects that may be of particular concern to frail patients or those with chronic health conditions. Throughout the volume, case illustrations, tables, and bulleted lists present key information in a concise, accessible format. The appendix features invaluable tables that summarize recommended dosage ranges for all medications discussed and encapsulate potential drug interactions. Ideal for primary care physicians, nurses, and psychiatrists, this guide also belongs on the desks of fellows and residents in geriatric medicine and psychiatry, nursing home administrators, social workers, psychologists, and other medical, mental health, and social service professionals. While written for professionals, the book's clear, factual style will also make it accessible to many family members and older patients themselves.

Geriatric psychiatry is a relatively young discipline within the field of North American psychiatry. The development of a workforce to meet the needs of an aging population has been identified as an urgent priority, but there is still much we don’t know about fulfilling the mental health needs of older adults. For Mark J. Rapoport, geriatric psychiatrists must assess and treat patients today in face of the limitations of what we know, but also be armed with enthusiasm to create novel ways of impacting on the quality of life of older patients with mental illness. The chapters in this book include case scenarios, concise point-form summaries of diagnostic and treatment approaches, up-to-date evidence syntheses, discussions of controversies, and a series of practical and thought-provoking questions and answers. Geriatric Psychiatry is a succinct and advanced review of geriatric psychiatry that will help clinicians improve the psychiatric care of an aging population.

For the first time in history, most people in societies such as our own can plan on growing old. But longer average life expectancies (76.5 years in the United States) also bring increased risk. At least 12% of elderly Americans-and an astounding 30%--50% of those seen in primary care or hospitalized for medical conditions-have diagnosable mental disorders (e.g., cognitive impairment, affective and anxiety disorders). Yet older people are poorly served by the mental health system, with its roadblocks of limited reimbursement and access, attitudes about aging, fewer psychotherapy referrals, and limited training in geriatric psychiatry. This third edition of a uniquely valuable pocket guide offers the latest research and practical advice for successfully diagnosing and treating elderly patients. The authors cover normal aging, mood and anxiety disorders, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, delirium, common mental disorders, and competency and related forensic issues such as informed consent. Clearly written and extensively illustrated, this informative guide also features an appendix of essential rating scales for depression, cognitive skills, and delirium. As such, it is a "must read" for all mental health professionals who work with the elderly and are challenged not only to identify and treat specific psychiatric disorders, but also to provide education, support, and preventive interventions to help older people and their families manage the common stresses of aging. (From Dr. Spar) Every section has been updated to reflect the contemporary literature, and there are new sections covering traumatic grief, vascular depression, strategies for antidepressant resistance, the genetics ofAzheimer's disease, psychopharmacology of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal and Lewy body dementia, and chronic pain. There is a new chapter on "Competency and Related Forensic Issues," and the 3rd edition is over 40% thicker than the 2nd Edition.

Covering the major psychiatric disorders encountered in consultation psychiatry, this text discusses when a psychiatric consultation is necessary, how to approach a patient in a medical setting and what qualities contribute to an effective consultant.