Mental Disorders in Older Adults: Fundamentals of Assessment and Treatment

by Steven H. Zarit PhD, Judy M. Zarit

Overview

Illustrated with abundant clinical material, this book provides essential knowledge and skills for effective mental health practice with older adults. It demonstrates how to evaluate and treat frequently encountered clinical problems in this population, including dementias, mood and anxiety disorders, and paranoid symptoms. Strategies are presented for implementing psychosocial interventions and integrating them with medications. The book also describes insightful approaches for supporting family caregivers and addresses the nuts and bolts of consulting in institutional settings. Combining their expertise as a researcher and an experienced clinician, the authors offer a unique perspective on the challenges facing older adults and how to help them lead more fulfilling and independent lives. Three reproducible forms can also be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781609184674
Publisher:	Guilford Publications, Inc.
Publication date:	03/29/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	468
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Steven H. Zarit, PhD, is Professor and Head of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Pennsylvania State University, and is also Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Gerontology, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden. He has conducted research on late-life issues, particularly family caregiving and adaptation for older adults. Dr. Zarit is a recipient of the Distinguished Career Contribution Award from the Gerontological Society of America.

Judy M. Zarit, PhD, has been in private practice in State College, Pennsylvania, since 1986. She specializes in neuropsychological assessment of dementia and clinical interventions with older adults. Dr. Zarit also provides consultation services to nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.
 

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Clinical Practice with Older Adults2. Normal Processes of Aging3. Disorders of Aging: Dementia, Delirium, and Other Cognitive Problems4. Mood and Anxiety Disorders5. Other Common Mental Health Problems in Later Life6. The Clinical Interview7. Psychological Testing for Differential Diagnosis and Capacity Evaluations8. Foundations of Treatment9. Treatment of Depression10. Treatment of Anxiety Symptoms11. Treatment of Paranoid Symptoms12. Treatment of Dementia13. Family Caregiving14. Consultation in Institutional Settings15. Ethical Issues in Geriatric Psychology

Interviews

Practitioners and students of psychology, psychiatry, nursing, and social work. Serves as a text for courses in psychology and aging, gerontology, geriatric psychiatry, and social work and the aged.

Editorial Reviews

2 Stars from Doody

This book covers the field of geriatric psychology, focusing on the fundamentals of assessment and treatment. Written by clinician-researchers in the field, it is a valuable introduction to psychology. The purpose, according to the authors, is to provide practitioners with the latest information on the aging process, its effect on mental health, and how older adults can be helped to lead healthier, happier, and more independent lives. The intended audience is psychologists, graduate students in psychology, and neuropsychologists. Geriatric psychiatrists could also benefit from parts of this book. Areas covered include such topics as the normal aging process, disorders of aging, later life psychiatric disorders, clinical assessment, psychological testing, and treatment of depression, paranoid disorders, family caregiving, and ethical issues. The book ends with a reference and index section. This is a valuable text that summarizes assessment and treatment issues in geriatric psychology.

Michael J. Schrift

Provides practitioners with the latest information on the aging process, its effects on mental health, and how older adults can be helped to lead happier lives. Describes normal processes of aging, then details the assessment and treatment of disorders most commonly experienced by older adults, including Alzheimer's, depression, anxiety, and paranoia. Examines a variety of therapeutic approaches for each disorder, and discusses frequently prescribed medications. A special section is devoted to working with families. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

"I found one of this book's great strengths to be the authors' ability to enrich the theoretical and research-based material they present with practice wisdom and practical advice for clinicians just beginning work with older adults. The insights they share with readers are clearly the result of many years of experience working with this client group."

Social Work in Health Care

"Two accomplished practitioners and researchers offer a spirited and holistic approach to working with older adults. Their optimism will go a long way in inspiring our students and in helping established practitioners to take a fresh approach toward a range of problems."

Aging & Mental Health

"A comprehensive and readable resource for clinicians and clinical students who work with older people and their families....Useful to upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty in psychology, social work, and gerontology, as well as to practitioners."

Choice

The unique component of this book is that every topic presented is supported with reality-based examples and case studies that are further supported by a rigorous literature review of current evidence. The text is easy to understand and integrates clinical practice and research….I highly recommend Mental Disorders in Older Adults, Second Edition to experienced or student clinicians for use as a reference or learning tool to better understand assessment, care, and treatment of the older adult faced with mental health problems. Experienced professionals, researchers, as well as students will benefit from the knowledge this book has to offer.”

Activities

"Provides excellent references and strong clinical materials. The authors focus on function rather than disease and their use of clinical situations reinforces their emphasis on the importance of respecting the individual and family unit....This book makes an excellent contribution to the field of mental health and aging."

Journal of Women and Aging

"This work offers an outstanding blend of scientific fact and clinical utility. The fields of gerontology and geriatrics have evolved substantially since the publication of the first edition, and this second edition captures the latest scientific advances for students and clinicians alike. Diagnosis of dementias, for example, is a complex and difficult task, but the authors make it clear and understandable with examples and tables."—Jerome Yesavage, MD, Stanford University School of Medicine

"Knowledge and understanding in the field of mental health in later life has developed so much over the last decade that this second edition, which is comprehensive in scope and yet detailed and thorough in its approach, is a major achievement. I will recommend it equally to clinical psychologists-in-training and to experienced colleagues, and will use it with our psychology undergraduates taking elective courses in this field. I found the use of numerous detailed case studies most helpful in bringing to life the research and theory. There is so much clinical wisdom in this book that reading it is comparable to a supervision session with a really experienced clinician. The tone of the book is refreshing: optimism and hope emerge from every page, grounded in a realistic appraisal of what can be achieved and in respect for the value of each older person and his or her caregivers."—Bob Woods, Professor of Clinical Psychology with Older People, University of Wales, Bangor, UK

"This second edition is an extraordinary guide for clinical professionals and graduate trainees who work with aging populations. The authors succeed in integrating clinical and research information in a highly readable, clinically relevant format. The case examples address the rich complexity of clinical psychology practice with aging populations, as well as the deeply satisfying nature of the work. For newcomers to the field, the book can function as a field guide. Anyone who engages in geriatric mental health services or research needs to read this book."—Sara Honn Qualls, PhD, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
 

"This important, inspiring book is destined for the 'must-read' list of students in psychology, geriatrics, social work, nursing, and other health professions who are interested in working with older people and their families. With this revised text, Zarit and Zarit have succeeded once more in providing mental health professionals with a clear and well-written reference tool for their own clinical practice. Of particular benefit to students and practicing clinicians alike are the useful and practical case examples that illustrate the key concepts presented in each chapter."—Lynn Friss Feinberg, MSW, National Center on Caregiving, Family Caregiver Alliance
 

"Liberally illustrated with case examples, this book artfully blends clinical expertise and research findings to provide sound guidance and proven approaches to assessment and intervention. It is no short order to write a book that appeals to students, to experienced practitioners seeking to build their skills for working with older adults, and to researchers seeking a broad foundation in clinical concepts, but Zarit and Zarit have successfully achieved that goal. I found the chapters on assessment to be particularly well done. I would use this book as a resource in undergraduate psychiatric nursing courses or as a supplemental text in clinical courses for family, adult, or psychiatric nurse practitioners."—Donna L. Algase, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA, Center on Frail and Vulnerable Elders, University of Michigan School of Nursing

From the Publisher

"This book will serve as an excellent text for graduate students and beginning gerontologists, and I suspect it will stimulate many readers to enter the rewarding specialty of treating the elderly."

American Journal of Psychotherapy

"A rich guidebook for assessing and treating the most common mental disorders likely to be encountered by mental health professionals working with older adults....An exceptional contribution to the field."

Contemporary Gerontology

Reviewer: Michael Schrift, DO (University of Washington School of Medicine)
Description: This book covers the field of geriatric psychology, focusing on the fundamentals of assessment and treatment. Written by clinician-researchers in the field, it is a valuable introduction to psychology.
Purpose: The purpose, according to the authors, is to provide practitioners with the latest information on the aging process, its effect on mental health, and how older adults can be helped to lead healthier, happier, and more independent lives.
Audience: The intended audience is psychologists, graduate students in psychology, and neuropsychologists. Geriatric psychiatrists could also benefit from parts of this book.
Features: Areas covered include such topics as the normal aging process, disorders of aging, later life psychiatric disorders, clinical assessment, psychological testing, and treatment of depression, paranoid disorders, family caregiving, and ethical issues. The book ends with a reference and index section.
Assessment: This is a valuable text that summarizes assessment and treatment issues in geriatric psychology.

Doody's Review Service