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Current Psychiatry Reports
Published in: Current Psychiatry Reports 9/2017

01-09-2017 | Geriatric Disorders (W McDonald, Section Editor)

Advances in Psychotherapy for Depressed Older Adults

Authors: Patrick J. Raue, Amanda R. McGovern, Dimitris N. Kiosses, Jo Anne Sirey

Published in: Current Psychiatry Reports | Issue 9/2017

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

We review recent advances in psychotherapies for depressed older adults, in particular those developed for special populations characterized by chronic medical illness, acute medical illness, cognitive impairment, and suicide risk factors. We review adaptations for psychotherapy to overcome barriers to its accessibility in non-specialty settings such as primary care, homebound or hard-to-reach older adults, and social service settings.

Recent Findings

Recent evidence supports the effectiveness of psychotherapies that target late-life depression in the context of specific comorbid conditions including COPD, heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and other acute conditions, cognitive impairment, and suicide risk. Growing evidence supports the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of psychotherapy modified for a variety of health care and social service settings.

Summary

Research supports the benefits of selecting the type of psychotherapy based on a comprehensive assessment of the older adult’s psychiatric, medical, functional, and cognitive status, and tailoring psychotherapy to the settings in which older depressed adults are most likely to present.
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Metadata
Title
Advances in Psychotherapy for Depressed Older Adults
Authors
Patrick J. Raue
Amanda R. McGovern
Dimitris N. Kiosses
Jo Anne Sirey
Publication date
01-09-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Psychiatry Reports / Issue 9/2017
Print ISSN: 1523-3812
Electronic ISSN: 1535-1645
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-017-0812-8

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