The American Psychiatric Press Textbook of Geriatric Neuropsychiatry (Electronic book text, annotated edition)

For most of human history, life expectancy was remarkably stable at about 3040 years. Within the past 150 years, however, medical advances have virtually doubled that number. The worlds elderly population is growing at 2.4% per year, faster than the rest of the population, with disproportionate increases expected to continue as newer and better treatments are found that minimize the disabilities associated with advanced age. Key to improving the health and quality of life of the elderly is understanding and treating the brain diseases and behavioral disorders that become highly prevalent with age. Geriatric neuropsychiatry is an integrative specialty that draws from many diverse fields, including psychiatry, neurology, neuroscience, and geriatrics. It provides expertise on how to distinguish normal age-related changes from those of disease and disordered brain function. Edited by two eminent practitioners and educators, the Textbook of Geriatric Neuropsychiatrys 41 chapters are divided into five major sections. Following a comprehensive introduction to geriatric neuropsychiatry, the editors include detailed chapters about neuropsychiatric assessment and neuropsychiatric aspects of psychiatric disorders and neurological disease in the elderly. They conclude with a discussion of the principles of neuropsychiatric treatment of the elderly. Exhaustively researched and annotated, this wide-ranging textbook provides a definitive core reference for psychiatry and neurology residents, particularly those pursuing a specialty in geriatrics and for graduate students in psychology, neuropsychology, and related fields.