Late-onset Mental Disorders: The Potsdam Conference

The association between certain diseases and particular periods of life has been studied since the 19th century, yet attempts to delineate categories of mental disorder unique to old age have floundered over the decades, and the debate continues unabated.

After an historical overview, this book looks at differences between early-onset and late-onset disorders. Is there anything special about old-age depression? Are there any atypical features of late-onset schizophrenia? Besides questions concerning depression, dementia and psychosis, the book looks at sleep disturbances in the elderly, anxiety, use of anti-dementia drugs, anti-depressants and neuroleptics in old age, and psychological processes.

It will be of particular interest to old age psychiatrists, liaison psychiatrists, epidemiologists, university lecturers and medical historians.