Showing papers by "Barry D. Lebowitz published in 1992"
TL;DR: Since depression in late life tends to be at least as chronic and/or recurrent as depression earlier in life, treatment for acute depressive episodes should last at least 6-8 months, and long-term maintenance treatment should be considered in selected individuals.
Abstract: DEPRESSION in the aging and the aged is a major public health problem. It causes suffering to many who go undiagnosed, and it burdens families and institutions providing care for the elderly by disabling those who might otherwise be able-bodied. What makes depression in the elderly so insidious is that neither the victim nor the health care provider may recognize its symptoms in the context of the multiple physical problems of many elderly people. Depressed mood, the typical signature of depression, may be less prominent than other depressive symptoms such as loss of appetite, sleeplessness, anergia, and loss of interest in, and enjoyment of, the normal pursuits of life. There is a wide spectrum of depressive symptoms as well as types of available therapies. Because of the many physical illnesses and social and economic problems of the elderly, individual health care providers often conclude that depression is a normal consequence
840 citations
01 Jan 1992
TL;DR: There are five major themes that combine to create a unique characterization of the subject matter of mental health and aging: the gerontological revolution, the geriatric revolution, senescence or normal processes of development and change in biological, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral systems, and comorbidity of physical illness and mental disorder.
Abstract: Publisher Summary Like aging, mental health is a multifaceted concept that refers more clearly to a field of research and clinical activity than to a unitary theoretical entity. Mental health phenomena emerge from the interplay of multiple contributing subsystems and require multisystemic thinking to be understood. The chapter discusses some concepts in mental health and aging. There are five major themes that combine to create a unique characterization of the subject matter of mental health and aging. These are the gerontological revolution, the geriatric revolution, senescence or normal processes of development and change in biological, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral systems, and comorbidity of physical illness and mental disorder. Each of these features combines with the well-established heterogeneity of the population by age, gender, race, and ethnicity to complete the overall background prospective on the area of aging and mental health. These five characteristics combine to influence the presentation, course, response to treatment, and outcome of major mental disorders and combine as well to influence psychological development and the promotion of positive mental health. The chapter further discusses the issues in mental health and aging. Each of these issues is a piece of the overall picture, and even a brief overview shows the interlocking nature of the concerns.
82 citations
TL;DR: An overview of research questions related to psychopathology in elderly patients in the areas of organic mental disorders, affective disorders, personality disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, and substance abuse is presented.
Abstract: The authors present an overview of research questions related to psychopathology in elderly patients. Specific research questions in the areas of organic mental disorders, affective disorders, personality disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, and substance abuse are presented. Clinical investigators are encouraged to pursue some of these specific questions in order to facilitate diagnosis and to develop specific effective treatment strategies for psychopathology in older patients.
6 citations