Most physical illness affects people at the extremes of life, particul arly in late life. A significant proportion of hospitalized older pati ents will experience some mental health problems, and medical units la cking specialist old age psychiatric services must rely on adult psych iatric and consultation liaison services for support. These generalist s assume the role of old age psychiatrists by default. A key aim of th e book is to provide guidelines for the appropriate treatment of psych iatric disorders in older people when medical illness complicates the picture. This book covers the...

An aging population places ever greater demands on health services. The delivery of efficient and effective psychiatric care for older people is a big concern for health service providers in both developed and developing countries. This book brings together the theory and practice of psychogeriatric service delivery from an international perspective. For both clinicians and service planners, this volume will be invaluable in helping them cope with the increasing demans they face, and optimize the service that they provide.