Cognitive-behavioral interventions approaches to managing the distress associated with physical/somatic complaints problems show much promise. As with anxiety disorders, the treatment of somatic complaints of older clients with pharmacological interventions poses risks. Multiple drug interactions, risk of sedation leading to loss of balance or falls, and addiction are problems that come with use of medication as the sole treatment for these problems. A growing literature on alternate methods of treating or managing these problems suggests that cognitive-behavioral interventions is a promising addition to traditional treatments. (more…)

Depression is the most common mental health problem in the elderly. While the incidence in community-dwelling older adults is no higher than in the general population, the risk increases significantly with medical illness or institutionalization. Depression is probably the best researched of the psychiatric disorders in the elderly, with epidemiological evidence indicating that older adults have the highest suicide rate of any age group (one-fourth of all suicides are carried out by persons age 60 or older by taking sleeping pills suicide). (more…)

Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions Research documenting the efficacy of Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions in treating the psychological problems of older adults is encouraging. Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and somatic complaints (e.g., chronic pain elderly, insomnia) in multiple controlled studies. However, research also has indicated that there may be multiple variables to consider in determining whether Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions is the best approach to use with a specific patient and a specific problem. For example, differential effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions compared to other forms of psychotherapy is less certain. (more…)

There are a number of issues that must be considered in geriatric pain assessment. The major issues that merit attention are presence of comorbidities, mental status, depression in late life, limitations in ADLs, medications, and the importance of family and other support systems (see Depression; Social Networks, Support, and Integration). (more…)

Depression is not a monolithic disorder. Rather, it presents in a variety of syndromes that may vary in severity, length, and association of depression with other symptoms. A number of ongoing controversies attend identification and differential diagnosis of depression in late life. This section considers three such issues: common clinical syndromes and diagnoses, major versus minor depressive syndromes, and the question of whether late-life depression is qualitatively different from depressive syndromes at younger ages. (more…)

The majority of older adults who suffer from depression experience lower-level symptoms that do not meet diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder. The DSM recognizes several well-defined disorders that are considered minor depressive states. Dysthymia is defined as presence of one of the two defining symptoms plus at least two other symptoms of depression continuously for a period of at least 2 years. This chronic, low-level depression typically manifests relatively early in life and is in fact less prevalent in older than in younger persons. (more…)

Adults have two principal jobs in life - earning a living and raising a family — and much of life’s satisfaction comes from doing these jobs as well as possible. The man’s work makes him feel useful and other people respect him if he does a good job. In the same manner, raising a family and making a home are the woman’s way of being useful. (more…)

It is now almost axiomatic that late-life depression is under detected, under diagnosed, and under treated. Although this basic fact has not changed, there has been tremendous progress over the past 10 years in ensuring that older adults with depressive disorders are in fact appropriately assessed, triaged, and provided adequate treatment for their symptoms. (more…)

Alcohol abuse can be defined as individuals drink more than normal quantity but on regular basis. This habits causes poor health to that person and pose danger to himself or others. Alcohol abusers are usually manage to set limits and measure himself to control over drinking habits. Most of the time, these person listen to family and friends who express concern and give suggestion to stop this alcohol abuse habit. In the more progress scale, alcohol abuse (more…)