Handbook Of Clinical Behavior Therapy With The Elderly Client

Although we speak of "the elderly" as if there were one body of people with common characteristics, older adults are more heterogeneous than any other popu lation. People over the age of 65 are also the fastest-growing segment of the population in the United States, currently numbering 25 million. The majority of older adults reside in their communities; a small fraction of them are cared for in institutions. Most may expect to experience some kind of physical impairment. Approximately a quarter of the population may expect to suffer amental health impairment. While traditional therapies have not been especially effective for older adults, behavior therapy has shown exceptional promise as a treatment modality. This book presents a comprehensive explication of the relatively new field of behavioral gerontology. It was written for the clinician interested in the interaction of medical, environmental, and psychological variables and their effects on treatment of elderly clients and for the researcher who will be looking to extend knowledge about interventions with this population. It will be useful for the graduate student in clinical psychology, as weIl as the experienced clinician, who will want to include the elderly in his or her therapeutic population.

The purpose of this book is to disseminate "best practice" models of treatment for the common mental health problems of late life, so that evidence-based practice will become the norm (rather than the exception) when working clinically with older adults. Each chapter contains reviews of the empirical literature focusing on studies conducted with elders; then they emphasize how CBT can be applied most effectively to that specific patient population. Case studies illuminate practice recommendations, and issues of diversity are likewise highlighted whenever possible.

Despite the occasional outcries to the contrary, the field of behavior therapy is still growing, and the asymptote has not been reached yet. The umbrella of behavior therapy continues to enlarge and still is able to encompass new theories, new con cepts, new research, new data, and new clinical techniques. Although the number of new behavioral journals now has stabilized, we still see a proliferation of books on the subject. In the past few years, however, we have seen considerable specialization within behavior therapy. No longer is it possible to be a generalist and remain fully abreast of all the relevant developments. Thus, we see behavior therapists who deal with adults, those who deal with children, those whose specialty is hospital psychiatry, and those who see themselves as practitioners of behavioral medicine. Even within a subarea such as behavioral medicine, specialization runs supreme to the extent that there are experts in the specific addictions, adult medical problems, and child medical problems. Given the extent of specialization, there are numerous ways "to skin" the pro verbial "cat." We therefore have chosen to look at the contemporary work in behavior therapy that is being carried out with adults, in part, of course, because of our long-standing interest in this area as teachers, researchers, and clinicians. In so doing, we have chosen to highlight the clinical aspects of the endeavor but not at the expense of the rich research heritage for each of the specific adult disorders.

As the average age of the population rises, mental health professionals have become increasingly aware of the critical importance of personality in mediating successful adaptation in later life. Personality disorders were once thought to "age out," and accordingly to have an inconsequential impact on the lives of the elderly. But recent clinical experience and studies underscore not only the prevalence of personality disorders in older people, but the pivotal roles they play in the onset, course, and treatment outcomes of other emotional and cognitive problems and physical problems as well. Clearly, mental health professionals must further develop research methods, assessment techniques, and intervention strategies targeting these disorders; and they must more effectively integrate what is being learned from advances in research and theory into clinical practice. Inspired by these needs, the editors have brought together a distinguished group of behavioral scientists and clinicians dedicated to understanding the interaction of personality and aging. Offering a rich array of theoretical perspectives (intrapsychic, interpersonal, neuropsychological, and systems), they summarize the empirical literature, present phenomenological case reports, and review psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and pharmacological treatment approaches. This comprehensive state-of-the-art guide will be welcomed by all those who must confront the complexity and the challenge of working with this population.

The first authoritative reference on clinical psychology and aging, the Handbook of the Clinical Psychology of Ageing was universally regarded as a landmark publication when it was first published in 1996. Fully revised and updated, the Second Edition retains the breadth of coverage of the original, providing a complete and balanced picture of all areas of clinical research and practice with older people. Contributions from the UK, North America, Scandinavia and Australia provide a broad overview of the psychology of aging, psychological problems (including depression, anxiety, psychosis, and dementia), the current social service context, and assessment and intervention techniques.

This book offers clinicians a condensed and accessible approach to treating patients with disabilities. Experts in such diverse areas as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities, spinal cord injury, chronic illness, visual and hearing disabilities, amputation, mental retardation, and autism provide their specialized cognitive-behavioral interventions. Each offers a comprehensive review of the nature of the dysfunction, appropriate models, assessment strategies, developmental considerations, and state-of-the-art treatment approaches. For practitioners who are attempting to address the unique and highly complex psychological needs of individuals with disabilities, this volume is an invaluable resource.

While neurodevelopmental and genetic disorders are often diagnosed in childhood, understanding and managing the impact of these conditions is a lifelong challenge. This authoritative handbook presents cutting-edge knowledge to guide effective assessment and treatment throughout the adult years. Illuminated are the neurobiological bases and clinical characteristics of a broad range of conditions that affect learning and behavior as well as physical functioning and health. Following a consistent format, chapters comprehensively describe the developmental course of each disorder, the changing needs of adults, and ways to help them harness their strengths.