Rajesh R. Tampi – författare

 Lastly, the older adults incarcerated in prisons is a group that is growing in numbers. They have unique needs at the intersection of the geriatric and forensic services, but are often marginalized by both services. The combination of poor quality of life and increasing costs makes the care of older adults in the criminal justice system makes this topic an important public health concern. There is a pressing need for better training of prison staff in issues of geriatric psychiatry. Assessment of criminal responsibility and competence to stand trial in aging offenders are other complex but under-studied issues.

 This proposed book will provide a comprehensive view of ethical, medicolegal, and forensic issues that will be useful in clinical practice. There will be three sub-sections, each focusing on ethical, medicolegal and forensic issues respectively. The first section will focus on ethical issues. Its first chapters will provide an overview of the how age and the process of aging influence decision-making and introduce unique ethical dimensions to clinical care. This will be followed by a discussion of the concepts of informed consent and capacity evaluation. The next chapters will focus on common scenarios that arise in the care of elderly patients and offer a practical approach to understanding and managing them. These will include assessments of the capacity to make medical decisions, the capacity to live independently, manage finances, drive a vehicle, have sexual relations etc. A chapter on ethical issues specific to dementia will outline issues related to diagnostic disclosure and genetic testing. Research ethics issues in geriatric psychiatry will also be outlined.

 The next section of the book will focus on surrogate decision making in an older adult who has been deemed to lack the capacity to serve one or more functions independently. The first chapters in this sub-section will focus on patient directed advance health care planning tools, namely, living will and power of attorney. This will be followed by an overview of default surrogate making. Guardianship will subsequently be covered. A separate chapter will cover the issue of elder abuse and discuss an approach to assessing it.

 The last section of the book will cover forensic issues in geriatric psychiatry. The first chapter will discuss aging older adults in the criminal justice system from an epidemiological perspective. The growing numbers of incarcerated older adults, their illness burden, the challenges in the diagnosis and management of neurocognitive disorders in the prison setting will be elucidated. The following chapter will discuss competence to stand trial with reference to elderly offenders. This will be followed by a discussion of the concepts of medical reprieve, compassionate release as well as model programs and policies currently in the works for older incarcerated adults.

This book critically reviews 75 important published papers that influence the practice of geriatric psychiatry. This book will assist anyone who is interested in the care of older adults with psychiatric disorders. It was written by thought leaders who shape the way geriatric psychiatry is currently practiced in the United States. All the major psychiatric disorders in later life are covered including anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders, depressive disorders, neurocognitive disorders, psychotic disorders, sleep disorders, and substance use disorders. It also reviews important studies on suicides in late life and interventional procedures in geriatric psychiatry like the ECT, and also evaluates the adverse effects of psychotropic medications on older adults with psychiatric disorders.    

This timely book provides detailed information regarding the latest treatment for psychiatric disorders among the growing population of older adults. The World Health Organization reports that between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world''s older adults (≥ 60 years) will double from about 12% to almost 22% of the total population, and it is estimated that approximately 20% of older adults have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder. Many of these older adults are prescribed psychotropic medications, but these treatments can result in significant functional decline, cognitive decline, cerebrovascular adverse events, and death.

The editors, in collaboration with fellow experts in geriatric psychiatry, provide the scientific background regarding the treatment of a range of psychiatric disorders among older adults. The volume features a comprehensive table of contents covering a range of psychiatry subtopics, such as neurocognitive disorders, depressive disorders, substance use disorders, and anxiety disorders. Each chapter adheres to the same easy-to-follow format, and amongst other information, includes evidence-based assessments, non-pharmacological and pharmacological therapies, potential side-effects and their treatments, and evidence-based treatment algorithms for each disorder.

Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders Among Older Adults will be a valuable resource for psychiatrists, geriatricians, students, neurologists, advance practice nurses, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and dieticians who care for older adults with mental health disorders.