Psychological Therapies with Older People : Developing Treatments for Effective Practice

The authors demonstrate the value of a range of psychological interventions with older people, describing the therapies most likely to be useful in mental health services for this group, and considering the implications for service provision.

Sigmund Freud believed that psychoanalysis (and other forms of therapy) was not suitable for people over 50 years of age. In Psychological Therapies with Older People, the authors demonstrate the value of a range of psychological interventions with older people, showing that it is ''not too late'' to help.
With an emphasis on practical application, and using a wide range of clinical examples, the authors describe the therapies most likely to be useful in a mental health service for older people, and consider the implications for service provision. Therapies covered include:
* interpersonal therapy (IPT)
* cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
* psychodynamic and systemic therapy
* cognitive analytical therapy (CAT).
For each treatment, the historical background and basic theoretical model is summarised before giving a description of the therapy in practice. The authors also discuss the theory of the use of evidence of efficacy and effectiveness in choosing therapeutic interventions, summarising currently available data. Psychological Therapies with Older People will be an invaluable resource for psychiatrists and psychologists working with older people, as well as to GPs, nurses and occupational therapists.