Widely recognized as the standard in its field, The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Geriatric Psychiatry has been revised and updated while continuing the tradition of providing both scholar and clinician with the practical skills and knowledge required for understanding mental disorders in later life. It offers an authoritative review of a wide range of topics written by leaders in geriatric psychiatry, gerontology, geriatric medicine, and geriatric nursing, offering a solid grounding in both basic science and clinical applications. The book boasts comprehensive updates of the most common mental health disorders in the elderly—from mood disorders and anxiety to schizophrenia and circadian rhythm disorders—and includes in this fourth edition new chapters on delirium, dementia and milder cognitive syndromes, and bipolar disorders. Throughout the text, special attention has been given to updating key topics such as psychopharmacology, genetics, cognitive disorders, delirium, and agitation. The fourth edition: Presents the latest findings in neuropsychological assessment and its role in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and in differentiating between various cognitive disorders. Summarizes key advances in genomic science and the current state of understanding about the genetics of the mental disorders of aging. Offers current recommendations for laboratory assessment of mental disorders, reflecting progress in research and technology over the past decade—particularly in imaging technology and genetic testing—while stressing the need to base tests on clinical presentations and on consideration of how results may change a treatment plan. Reviews assessment tools, diagnosis, prevention, and management approaches for delirium, emphasizing nonpharmacological approaches as the first line of treatment. Discusses specific dementia syndromes—Alzheimer’s dementia, vascular dementia, dementias due to Lewy body disease, and dementia due to frontotemporal degeneration—along with approaches to treatment ranging from disease therapies to therapies for cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Provides new coverage of bipolar disorders, helping practitioners better understand basic facts about their onset in late life and including treatment guidelines based on case reports. The text is enhanced by a wide array of quick-reference tables and charts, lists of key points, and extensive references and suggested readings that can help students at all levels learn more about individual topics. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Geriatric Psychiatry is an unparalleled source for all medical professionals dealing with elderly patients, and is even more indispensable in this new edition. Contents Part 1: The Basic Science of Geriatric Psychiatry. The myth, history, and science of aging. Neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neuropathology of aging. Physiological and clinical considerations of geriatric patient care. Demography and epidemiology of psychiatric disorders in late life. Chemical messengers. Genetics. Psychological aspects of normal aging. Social and economic factors related to psychiatric disorders in late life. Part 2: The Diagnostic Interview in Late Life. The psychiatric interview of older adults. Use of the laboratory in the diagnostic workup of older adults. Neuropsychological assessment of dementia. Part 3: Psychiatric Disorders in Late Life. Delirium. Schizophrenia and paranoid disorders. Movement disorders. Mood disorders. Bipolar disorders. Dementia and milder cognitive syndromes. Anxiety and panic disorders. Somatoform disorders. Agitation and suspiciousness. Bereavement and adjustment disorders. Sleep and circadian rhythm disorders. Alcohol and drug problems. Personality disorders. Sexual disorders. Part 4: Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders in LateLife. Psychopharmacology. The continuum of caring in the long term: movement toward the community. Nutrition and physical activity. Individual and group psychotherapy. Working with the family of the older adult. Clinical psychiatry in the nursing home. Electroconvulsive therapy. Part 5: Special Topics. The past and future of geriatric psychiatry. Legal, ethical, and policy issues. Index.
About the Authors Dan G. Blazer, M.D., Ph.D., is J.P. Gibbons Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University, Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina.
David C. Steffens, M.D., M.H.S., is Professor of Psychiatry and Medicine and Head of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at Duke University, Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina.
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