Late-Life Mood Disorders

This book contains a comprehensive review of the current research advances in late life mood disorders. This detailed review reflects the new understanding of neurobiology and psychosocial origins of geriatric mood disorders in the first decade of the 21st Century and is provided by the international group of leading experts in the field. The review of the latest developments and "gold standards" of care or methodologies in geriatric mood disorders is complemented by the anticipated future directions of research and translation into clinical practice. Our volume targets a broad audience of clinical researchers and clinicians. The content of the book will increase clinicians' and researcher's competency in recent research findings, and broaden their diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives and power of observation that will prepare them to deal with the challenges of finding appropriate effective treatments for older adults with mood disorders. The discussion of the data is presented in a textbook format and can be used for training of students of geriatric mental health. Individual chapters can be used as references on a particular topic for interested individuals, and obtained online. Clinicians and researchers who are dedicated to the treatment and study of mood disorders in older people might consider this volume an essential part of their library.

Dr. Helen Lavretsky is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, a geriatric psychiatrist with the research interest in geriatric depression and caregiver stress, as well as complementary and alternative medicine and mind-body approaches to treatment and prevention of disorders in older adults. She is a recipient of the two Career Development awards from NIMH and other prestigious research awards. Her current research include clinical and translational studies of geriatric depression and caregiver stress, as well as complementary and alternative interventions for stress reduction in older adults.

Dr. Sajatovic is Professor of Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a researcher, educator, and clinician who has devoted herself to the study and treatment of traditionally hard-to treat populations with serious mental illness. Dr. Sajatovic is Director of Geropsychiatry at University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC) and holds the Willard Brown Chair in Neurological Outcomes at UHCMC/Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Dr. Charles F. Reynolds III, M.D. is the UPMC Professor of Geriatric Psychiatry; and professor of neurology and neuroscience; Senior Associate Dean University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; and professor of behavioral and community health sciences at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. The recipient of a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Research Scientist Award and a MERIT award for studies of "Maintenance Therapies in Late Life Depression," Dr. Reynolds has twice been named one of The Best Doctors in America and has received the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.