The Future of Psychosocial Treatments for Elderly Patients

Geriatric psychiatric disorders usually occur in the context of medical illness, disability, and psychosocial impoverishment. Preliminary evidence suggests that psychotherapy can reduce not only psychopathology but also physical complaints, pain, and disability and that it can improve compliance with medical regimens. Psychotherapy has been found effective in treatment of depression related to bereavement and caregiver burden. Modification of available treatment strategies to address infirmity and life adversity may have a major impact on rehabilitation from psychiatric and medical disorders and may reduce utilization of nonpsychiatric health services. Most elderly patients with psychiatric problems prefer to be treated by their primary care physician. Models need to be developed and tested to integrate psychotherapy and other mental health services in primary care settings so that timely and appropriately targeted interventions can be provided.