Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Older Adults

Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Older Adults is the first clinical book on how to conduct Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) with persons 65 years of age and older. This growing cohort in the United States is expected to rise substantially after 2010, when the baby boom cohort enters that age category.

To help clinicians learn effective care, the authors draw upon a wealth of experience to provide a comprehensive review of theory and research as well as practical guidance on clinical interventions. The authors review late life depression's presentation, health consequences, prevalence, interpersonal dynamics, clinical assessment, and treatment. Particularly valuable is the inclusion of actual clinical cases to illustrate the use of IPT in each phase of treatment. A case is made for why IPT is especially well suited for older persons by drawing upon theory and research on aging, the author's clinical experience in using IPT with older adults, and clinical research studies of IPT with the aged.

By showing how the science of gerontology can best inform the practice of clinical geropsychology, the authors have written a book that will be an invaluable resource to any mental health professionals working with older adults.

Kathleen F. Clougherty is a clinical instructor is social work at the Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine. Gregory A. Hinrichsen is director of psychology training at The Zucker Hillside Hospital, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, and associate professor of psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.