HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH British Journal of Psychiatry Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

Electronic Letters to:

Original papers: Sandra Evans A survey of the provision of psychological treatments to older adults in the NHS Psychiatr Bull 2004; 28: 411-414 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

eLetters: Submit a response to this article

Electronic letters published:

Old age Psychiatrists : Making a Difference

Geraldine D'Souza   (5 September 2005)

Old age Psychiatrists : Making a Difference 5 September 2005
Geraldine D'Souza, Staff Grade in Old age Psychiatry St.Michaels Hospital, Warwick. Send letter to journal: Re: Old age Psychiatrists : Making a Difference gerry_s_1977{at}yahoo.co.in Geraldine D'Souza	The survey by Dr.Sandra Evans in the Psychiatric Bulletin Nov( 2004) raises the important and often ignored issue about the psychological needs of the elderly. I would like to take this opportunity to add my own thoughts on this ever relevant topic. Many elderly patients face problems that threaten psychological homeostasis such as chronic illness, disability, loss of autonomy, bereavement, loneliness, lack of social reinforcement, role transitions and interpersonal disputes. The nature of these problems requires specific knowledge on part of the psychologist and therapist working with older adults. Such skill and expertise is limited due to various reasons, one of them being the small number of referrals made to these departments in the first place. It could be a turning point in the practice of old age psychiatry if more weight is given to training or additional qualification in psychological therapies amongst the new generation of Old age Psychiatrists. This could help bridge the gap by increasing awareness of the psychological needs of the elderly within multidisciplinary teams, change thinking patterns, encourage others and provide adequate training and supervision for colleagues. Apart from service provision, I would like to point out other equally important factors as to why older people do not receive equitable access to psychological treatment. Older people’s psychological problems are not correctly identified as many of them are more likely to complain of physical problems than express how they feel. Patients and clinicians expect poor outcome of their treatment. There are complexities related to their physical health problems and the occasional incorrect diagnosis of dementia for depression. Finally elderly people are less likely to initiate a referral for themselves or seek help. In conclusion, Old age Psychiatrists would need to take a more proactive approach in trying to meet the psychological needs of older adults thereby changing current practice and making a difference! References: Grant.S, Holmes.J & Watson.J. Guidelines for Psychotherapy training as part of general professional psychiatric training. Psychiatric Bulletin (1993)17:695-698. Roth.A&Fonagy.P (1996)What works for whom? A Critical Review of Psychotherapy Research. Newyork,Guildford press. A.Janmohamed et al. Does protected time improve psychotherapy training in psychiatry?: A response to college guidelines. Psychiatric Bulletin (2004);28:100-103. Declaration of Interest - None.