PSYB32H3 Chapter 16: chapter 16
Document Summary
Until recently, the psychological problems of older people were neglected by mental health professionals. As life expectancy continues to improve, it will become even more important to learn about the disorders suffered by some older people and the most effective means of treating them. Generally, people in late life report low levels of negative emotion, are not inappropriately concerned with their health, and are not lonely. On the other hand, poverty, stigma, and physical disease are common challenges for people as they age. In research studies, differences between a younger and an older group could reflect either cohort effects or effects of chronological age. Longitudinal studies are more helpful for making this distinction than are cross-sectional studies. Serious cognitive disorders affect a small minority of older people. Two principal disorders have been distinguished: dementia and delirium. In dementia, the person"s intellectual functioning declines, and memory, abstract thinking, and judgment deteriorate.
