Practical Psychiatry of Old Age

The first edition of this book was suggested by Tom Arie, Professor of Health Care of the Elderly at the University of Nottingham. We have ordered the book so that the basic background information and skills in approaching the problems of old age are dealt with first. The main focus of this new edition remains the practical assessment and management of people presenting with psychiatric symptoms in late life. The core of the book describes the common presentations of depression, confusion, somatic preoccupation, hallucinations and delusions. Case vignettes are used to illustrate the approach to clinical problems. There is special emphasis on the complex interaction of social, psychological and medical factors and the need for close multi-disciplinary teamwork. The new edition has been revised to: update the clinical approach, update patient management under new policies, provide a precise diagnostic system and structure the book in keeping with today's practice. This book should be of interest to postgraduate students in psychiatry or geriatrics; medical students; clinical psychologists; and nurses and other health professionals.