A broad clinical assessment of psychopathology in the aged.

Abstract

The perspective of this chapter is one of breadth rather than depth. Any one of the topics touched upon is better treated by other authors. If this chapter has any merit it is to highlight the broadening front of advances in techniques for the assessment of psychopathology in the elderly. The wide range of available techniques presents special advantages and problems. Special effort is needed to keep in mind the contributions and limitations of techniques outside one's own discipline and to integrate the information from these many sources. In the elderly, perhaps even more than in young age groups, a complex assessment is required that cuts across conventional disciplinary boundaries.Although the term psychopathology strictly refers to the study of the symptoms of mental disorder, in this chapter and in accordance with popular usage, we will use psychopathology to mean morbid psychological symptoms. The task of assessing psychopathology requires that the latter be defined, detected, quantified, and classified, and further, that consideration be given to natural history (prognosis), response to therapy, and etiology. A full assessment of psychopathology in the aged will cover all these steps. Barry J. Gurland trained in psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital in London. He is currently Head of the Section on Diagnosis and Psychopathology in Biometrics Research at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, where he also serves as United States Director of the United States-United Kingdom Diagnostic Project. His research interests center around the classification of psychological symptoms and social maladjustment.The author wishes to thank Roni Gurland for her assistance in surveying the literature, and J. Zubin and L. S h a r p for their helpful comments.

Art therapy as a mechanism for increasing life satisfaction in later life

“…Other practitioners and gerontologists make a plea for society to aggressively and creatively develop innovative therapeutic services for the elderly which would lead to more effective and adaptive methods of coping with losses related to reduced physical, mental, social, and cultural capacities. The focus of therapy on the aged should be toward helping them find a sense of identity, autonomy, and fulfillment (Birren & Woodruff, 1973;Davis & Klopfer, 1977;Eisdorfer & I.a.wton, 1973;Gurland, 1973;Ingebretsen, 1977;Jarvik & Cohen, 1973;Krasner, 1977Krasner, : I.a.wton, 1973McGee & I.a.kin, 1977;Nouwen & Gaffney, 1976;Riegel, 1973;Zubin, 1973).…”

Community Intervention with the Elderly: A Social Network Approach

“…During the Network Session the professional gathers impressions for a clinical assessment of important aspects of the client's situation, including (18):…”

Structure of depression in older men and women

“…Depressive symptoms in persons over 60 years of age have been studied previously (Gottesman, Quarterman, & Cohn, 1973), but the components or syndromes of depression in the elderly have not been investigated thoroughly. Although depression may increase with age, especially in those who are facing decreased incomes, widowhood, or deteriorating health (Gurland, 1973) , the types of depression experienced in the elderly may differ by sex. There is also recent evidence to suggest that women may be more susceptible to developing depression (Radloff &, Rae, 1979), and older women might be even more at risk.…”