Handbook of Emotional Disorders in Later Life Assessment and Treatment

Although the perceptions and realities of ageing have changed markedly over the last few decades, for practitioners working with older people, emotional problems remain a major factor of health and happiness in later life. This handbook provides a concise, authoritative and up to date guide to best practice in therapy for older people, for a wide range of mental health professionals. The editors bring together chapters by experienced trainers and clinicians that cover all the significant problems and issues in the assessment and treatment of emotional disorders in later life. The introductory chapters examine the individual, social, cultural and physical experience of ageing, and provide an essential background for a caring and professional understanding of related emotional disorders and their effective treatment. Throughout the book, key research and clinical experience is reported as underlying evidence based treatment, but the emphasis is on practical guidance for assessment and interventions, rather than detailed discussion of methodological issues. With each chapter written by a specialist in their field, a range of expertise is provided in a single source, making this book an invaluable resource for anyone dealing with the mental health needs of older people.

Ken Laidlaw, MA, MPhil., PhD, C.Psychol., is a qualified clinical psychologist and academic with many years experience of service development and research with older people. He gained his PhD at Edinburgh University. He is employed part of his time at the University of Edinburgh within the school of Health in Social Science and until recently he was deputy course director on the Clinical Psychology Training Programme. He is also employed with NHS Lothian where he is consultant clinical psychologist and professional lead for older adult clinical psychology services for Edinburgh. He is regularly invited to present clinical workshops nationally and internationally on the application of CBT with older people. He has written a number of articles and book chapters on CBT with older people. His research interests are ongoing and include looking at the development of treatment approaches for older people with emotional distress and significant chronic health problems.
Bob G. Knight, Ph.D. is the Merle H. Bensinger Professor of Gerontology and Professor of Psychology at the Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California. In addition to that position, he also serves as Director of the Tingstad Older Adult Counseling Center and faculty director of the Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center. He is currently serving the Department of Psychology as Director of Clinical Training.

He has published extensively in mental health and aging (including 'Psychotherapy with Older Adults', 'Outreach with the Elderly', 'A guide to psychotherapy and aging: Effective clinical interventions in a life-stage context' and 'Psychotherapy with depression in older adults'. He has also been active in various professional organizations relating to psychology and aging.