With an aging baby boomer population and life-prolonging medical advances, psychiatrists must brace for an estimated 10 million late-life patients by the year 2020. Geriatric Psychiatry (Review of Psychiatry, Volume 22) outlines current research on this burgeoning patient group, with practice implications for clinicians.

In Geriatric Psychiatry renowned experts review the latest information on etiology, diagnosis, and treatment options, including pharmacological and behavioral therapies, for a range of late-life disorders:

• Depression and anxiety disorders—A look at late-stage depression and anxiety, with specific information on depression that complicates dementia

• Dementia—Research advances for better understanding of pathophysiology, improved treatment options, and identification of risk factors

• Late-life psychotic disorders—Treating late-life schizophrenia, posttraumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder, as well as comorbidity associated with disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and others

• Late-life addictions—Screening, assessment, treatment, compliance issues, and outcomes for patients with prescription drug and alcohol addictions and comorbid conditions

Also included is an overview of the mental health delivery system for older adults today, including trends in federal expenditures, managed care, long-term-care regulatory trends, special concerns for older adults with severe mental illness, and legislative and policy initiatives.

Every psychiatrist who treats adults must prepare for a major increase in older patients. Geriatric Psychiatry serves as a vital update on current knowledge and practice options for improving quality of life in older adults with mental illnesses.