Geriatric Depression A Clinical Guide

by Kennedy, Gary J.

• ISBN13: 9781462519866
• ISBN10: 1462519865
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2015-03-10
• Publisher: The Guilford Press

Summary

Written for a broad range of mental health professionals, this book explains why depression can be challenging to treat in older adults and describes the most effective interventions. Noted geriatric psychiatrist Gary J. Kennedy draws on extensive clinical experience and research to present current best practices in pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, other psychosocial and lifestyle interventions, and electroconvulsive therapy. Depressive disorders complicated by psychosis, mania, dementia, and bereavement are addressed in detail, as is suicide prevention. Kennedy emphasizes the importance of integrating care across service settings and building strong partnerships with patients and their families. Quick-reference tables throughout the book distill critical elements of intervention.

See also the author's award-winning Geriatric Mental Health Care: A Treatment Guide for Health Professionals, which provides a framework for treating the most frequently encountered psychiatric problems in this population.

Author Biography

Gary J. Kennedy, MD, is Director of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and of the Fellowship Training Program at Montefiore Medical Center and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York. Dr. Kennedy is board certified in Geriatric Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine. He is a past president of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry and a past chair of the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation. Dr. Kennedy is a recipient of an Award for Excellence in Program Innovation from the Archstone Foundation and an Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance for Mental Illness. His research has focused on suicidal ideation, the epidemiology of depression and dementia, psychiatric services in primary care, and novel approaches to bridge community-based agencies and academic medical centers. His book Geriatric Mental Health Care: A Practical Guide for Health Professionals received a Book of the Year Award in Gerontology from the American Journal of Nursing and in 2014 was listed as one of 100 Great Books for the Social Worker's Library by MSWOnlinePrograms.

Table of Contents

1. The Problem of Depression in Late Life
2. What Causes Depression in Late Life and What Makes It Difficult to Treat?
3. Pharmacotherapy
4. Effective Psychotherapies
5. Other Psychosocial Interventions
6. Diet, Supplements, and Exercise
7. Electroconvulsive Therapy
8. Reducing the Risk of Suicide in Late Life
9. Prevention of Depression: Implications for Collaborative Care
Epilogue
References
Index