This is also true in psychiatry, where the number of geriatric psychiatry specialists falls far short of the need. Because of this unbalance, general psychiatrists--many of whom have little or no training or experience in dealing with older adults and their specific issues--are now being called upon to offer care to this population.

In this book, Sakauye covers issues fundamental to the field of geriatric psychiatry that are not addressed well in general adult training:

Late-life development
Biology of aging
Common medical illnesses associated with aging
Neurobiology of degenerative disorders
Geriatric psychopharmacology
Psychotherapeutic modifications for special populations, such as patients with cognitive impairment
Multidisciplinary care and family involvement
Specific studies of older adults as a special population (differences)

While specialists will find it a useful resource for brushing up on fundamentals, Geriatric Psychiatry Basics is the ideal handbook for non-specialists who need a quick reference or primer on the issues central to geriatric care. In it, Sakauye, a geriatric psychiatrist who worked closely with the elderly victims of Hurricane Katrina, explores the most commonly encountered issues and problems--from memory impairment, Alzheimer's, delirium, dementia, and cognitive disorders, to depression, psychosis, anxiety, substance abuse, somatoform, and sleep disorders.

Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment options, including pharmacotherapy, are addressed for each presenting problem, and "clinical pearls"--nuggets of critical information, common pitfalls, differentiation protocols between normal and abnormal behavior, etc.--are clearly addressed. The use of psychotherapeutic interventions for older adults as well as psychiatric care in nursing homes and other inpatient facilities is also explained, making this an immensely practical and user-friendly handbook for all mental health professionals on how to deliver proper geriatric mental health services.

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