Building on the success of Practical Psychiatry of Old Age¸ now in its Fourth Edition, this book looks in more detail at affective disorders from a variety of perspectives. It includes expert contributions on areas such as aetiology, diagnosis and psychological and pharmacological treatment. It also focuses on a contextual approach to the management of affective disorders in areas like primary care and geriatric medicine, as well as the specific contributions of disciplines such as nursing, social work and occupational therapy. User and carer viewpoints are also included, along with the often neglected spiritual aspects of managing these conditions.

This balanced, inclusive and practical approach makes it ideal for all members of the multi-disciplinary team involved in the management of affective disorders in older people.

‘This book will be a useful resource for all members of the multi-professional team. It will help them understand the contributions of other disciplines but most of all it will help them adopt a balanced and practical approach to the management of a very important group of disorders in old age.’
Stephen Curran and John P Wattis, in the Preface

* Affective disorders in the new millennium

* Affective disorders in old age; detection and clinical features

* Aetiology of late life affective disorder

* Pharmacological management of depression in older people

* Pharmacological treatment of bipolar affective disorder in old age

* Electricity, magnetism and mood

* Psychotherapy with older people

* Depression in physically ill older people

* Relationship between physical illness and affective disorders

* Depression in primary care

* The role of the nurse in the assessment, diagnosis and management of patients with affective disorders

* Occupational therapy and affective disorders

* Social services for older people with depression

* Carer and service user perspectives of affective disorders in older people

* Cultural aspects of affective disorders in older people

* Religion/spirituality and depression in old age

* An overview of human drug development

Any clinician who works with older patients should read this book. This is a superb book on managing mood disorders in the elderly with a multidisciplinary focus. It is an excellent review of this important literature and will help clinicians in the care of this rapidly growing population. DOODYS REVIEW SERVICE

'This book offers a useful overview of affective disorders in the older person.' MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE

'A welcome addition, worth including on a multi-disciplinary bookshelf and in the health library.' AGEING & SOCIETY

'Very well written and has great breadth. It is impressively current, authoritative and well referenced. There is balance, there is respect for each other's opinions, there is skill and, most importantly, there is a simple common goal: patient care. The book reflects those themes throughout. A fine piece of work, which does its subject justice and would be a good addition to any clinician's library.' INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOGERIATRICS