Trauma Among Older People: Issues and Treatment

by Leon Albert Hyer, Steven Sohnle

Overview

Trauma Among Older Adults presents an integrative model of treatment that considers current theories of treatment in light of special considerations relating to elderly patients. The book provides case studies, vignettes, and discussions, and demonstrates the importance of considering the personality, memory, and familial history of an elderly individual who has suffered a trauma.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781317722328
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/10/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	369
Sales rank:	804,344
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Leon Albert Hyer, Steven Sohnle

Table of Contents

Preface, Aging and Trauma: Good Enough Understanding of Age, "Good Enough" Understanding of Trauma, Moderating Variables of Trauma in the Aging Person, Older People in Need of Help, Conclusion. PTSD in the Context of Aging: Prevalence of PTSD, PTSD's Historical Roots: Military Combat, What is PTSD? Oh, Well, What's in a Diagnosis? Theories of PTSD, Other Influences of Trauma, Special Problems, Conclusion. Life Story of the Aging Person: Two Faces of Aging, Life Story, Conclusion. Person and Memory: Memory Overall, Autobiographical Memory and Decline, Facts of the Aging Memory, Core Memory, Internal Organization, Schemas Personality Memories, Conclusion. Treatment: PTSD and Beyond: Overall Treatment, PTSD Treatment, Information Processing, Old Folks and Rx, Conclusion. Key Ingredients to Psychotherapy: Dosed Exposure, Goals, Relationship, Relaxation, Assimilation, Emotion: Keeping in the Zone, Presentness Power, The Marker/Reflexiveness, Integration, Little and Big Stuff, Conclusion. Treatment Model: Early Stages: Integration. Stage 1: Stabilize the Client. Stage 2: Relationship. Stage 3: Balance. Conclusion. Personality: Stage 4: Personality: PTSD and Personality. Aging and Personality. Theoretical Directions. Conclusion. Core Memory: The "Good" Memory: Narrative Perspective. Assessment of Memory. The Good Memory: PCM. Principles for PCM. Last Resort. Special Case: Constructivism. Conclusion. The Trauma Memory: The "Bad" Memory: Extant Models. Aging and the "Bad" Memory. The Trauma Memory. Aftercare and Relapse Prevention. Necessary Treatment: Family. Conclusion. Grief Work and Forgiveness in the Context of PTSD: The Self. Grief Constructs. Growth in Grief. Treatment Model. Forgiveness: The Special Ingredient of Grief Therapy. A Caution. Conclusion. Using Assessment Data to Inform the Treatment Plan: Overall Considerations. Ideographic Formulation. The Players. Measures of Comorbid Issues. Conclusion. References. Appendix A: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Application. Appendix B: Treatment Rules for Axis II. Appendix C: EMDR Relaxation Procedure. Index

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Deborah L. Garrelts, MD (Rush University Medical Center)
Description: This book examines the interface between trauma and the aging population in order to address the unique issues in this population. It provides an integrated new treatment model to help individuals working with this population focus not on curing but helping patients accept a new life.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide an "Owner's Manual for PTSD at later life." The book looks at the interface between trauma and aging and how to assess and treat the unique issues found in elderly individuals suffering from traumatic memories.
Audience: The target audience is geriatric mental health professionals such as psychologists, gerontologists, and traumatologists.
Features: This book begins by looking at the aging process and trauma and the relationship between them. It then looks at memory as a whole and how it is influenced by aging, and as it relates to trauma and PTSD. Treatment of PTSD overall is addressed the special issues that need to be addressed for older people suffering from PTSD are discussed. The book presents a therapy model for older trauma victims and includes special chapters on dealing with personality issues and problems and unique treatment approaches to trauma memory.
Assessment: The book provides innovative and unique ideas on treating trauma in the aged population including changing ones focus from the "aim of cure to acceptance of a new life." It fills a gap in the area of trauma as it relates to the aging population.

Doody's Review Service

"... this book fills a gaping hole in the field... The ideas are very much mainstream, but they are also cutting edge and articulated very clearly. The emphasis on personality and individual differences is much needed, especially as applied to people who have lived with the disorder for years and years." — Don R. Catherall, Ph.D., Northwestern University Medical School
"The elderly are often isolated by age and social biases, and this lends itself to increased trauma, violence and neglect. Until recent years we have not even had resources and laws/procedures to report elderly abuse, having to rely on the language and format of child abuse while making appropriate adjustments for age and circumstance. Experts in domestic violence cite rapidly growing numbers of victims among the elderly, often in long-term marriages." — The World Pastoral Care Center
"This is the definitive work on PTSD with the aged. What makes this book so praiseworthy is a combination of clarity, extensiveness, and insight. By insight, I mean that the authors know when to lay out the full range of accepted diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and when to admit the limitations of what is currently accepted. What is especially refreshing here is the discernment and decision making: looking at the patient's personality and situation in order to decide what kind of treatment approach to use." — Clinical Gerontologist, Volume 24, No. 4
"This book is both a useful and necessary book in an increasingly ageist society, that ironically refuses to age!
I welcome this book as I welcome anything that informs my practice as a Psychologist/Counselor or Psychoterapist, whichever 'hat' I am wearing." — The Irish Psychologist, Volume 31, No. 1

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