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Overview
Old-age psychiatry continues to grow as speciality, driven by research advances, demographics and political will. Psychiatric services and treatments for the old are improving and the outlook for further progress is encouraging.
In this new edition of the classic textbook of old age psychiatry, Robin Jacoby and Catherine Oppenheimer have retained the coherent structure of previous editions, approaching the topic under the section headings of basic sciencej, clinical practice, psychiatric services and specific disorders; however, within this logical structure they have conducted a major revision, bringing in a number of new authors and covering the full range of new research. The exciting developments in the field of molecular biology are covered as are the improvements in our understanding of the pathogenesis of the dementias, specifically, although not limited to Alzheimer's Disease.
All of the chapters in this new edition have been revised and updated and there are new chapters on quality of life measurement, the economics of care, suicide in old age, hallucinations and functional symptoms in Parkinson's Disease. The team of expert contributors has grown to 62 in number, representing a wide range of specialities and providing input from nine different countries. This has resulted in the most comprehensive and holistic review of the field.
Psychiatry in the Elderly continues to be essential reading for trainees, practicing psychiatrists and those in other branches of care whose work brings them into contact with elderly psychiatric patients.
The book contains black-and-white illustrations.
Editorials
From The Critics
Reviewer: Philip Khoury, MD(Rush University Medical Center)Description: This book covers the gamut of geriatric psychiatry presented in five sections covering basic science to clinical issues and ethics, as well as a section devoted to specific disorders. The previous editions were published in 1991 and 1997.
Purpose: The purpose is to satisfy the training needs of psychiatrists seeking specialization in geriatric psychiatry. Understanding this field is essential to all going into adult psychiatry, and to a great degree this book provides the necessary foundation.
Audience: The intended audience includes psychiatrists-in-training as well as multidisciplinary professionals in the field. Over 50 authors contribute to the book and all have clinical experience in geriatric medicine or have some connection to the field.
Features: The scope of material covered is too broad to summarize briefly, but overall, the book covers both the science and clinical aspects of practicing older age psychiatry. What is best about it are the up-to-date and thorough readings. The chief exception to this would be the therapeutic intervention of cognitive behavioral therapy. Although it is frequently mentioned as a highly effective intervention, such as in depression, there is little discussion of its theory and practice.
Assessment: I have found this book extremely relevant and useful in the short time I have been using it. Many of the sections augment my current knowledge and are helpful in applying the information to my patients. This is the best book I have seen in my clinical training for geriatric psychiatry. Gven the nature of the field, revisions every few years are a necessity to stay current.
Michael J. Schrift
This is the second edition of this comprehensive textbook covering geriatric psychiatry. Edited and written by internationally recognized leaders in the field, this book is a valuable contribution to psychiatry. "The purpose is to document the advances that have occurred in the understanding of psychiatric disorders in old age, such as the developments in the molecular biology and molecular genetics of the major dementing disorders. The editors have succeeded in their goal. "The intended audience includes psychiatrists, trainees in geriatric psychiatry, trainees in general psychiatry, geriatricians, social workers, and other allied mental health workers who care for the elderly. "The textbook features 788 pages divided into five sections and 41 chapters, including an index. Topics include basic science information regarding aging and neuropathology; clinical practice involving assessment and treatment issues; psychiatric services covering economic and caregiver problems; specific disorders such as delirium, dementia, depressive and manic illnesses, and late-onset psychosis; and sexuality, ethics, and medicolegal issues. "This second edition of this comprehensive textbook of geriatric psychiatry, with a slight British orientation, updates advances in the study of mental disorders of the elderly and is a welcome contribution to the field.4 Stars! from Doody