Psychological Assessment and Treatment of Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Psychological Assessment ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Skill Assessment ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Comprehensive Text

Mental health practitioners are encountering an ever-growing number of older adults and so an up-to-date and comprehensive text addressing the special considerations that arise in the psychological assessment and treatment of this population is vital. This accessible handbook does just that by introducing the key topics that psychologists and other health professionals face when working with older adults. Each area is introduced and then the special considerations for older adults are explored, including specific ethical and healthcare system issues. The use of case examples brings the topics further to life. An important feature of the book is the interweaving of diversity issues (culture, race, sexuality, etc.) within the text to lend an inclusive, contemporary insight into these important practice components. The Pikes Peak Geropsychology Knowledge and Skill Assessment Tool is included in an appendix so readers can test their knowledge, which will be helpful for those aiming for board certification in geropsychology (ABGERO). This an ideal text for mental health professionals transitioning to work with older clients, for those wanting to improve their knowledge for their regular practice, and for trainees or young clinicians just starting out.

Clinical psychological assessment of older adults.

1980 ◽  
pp. 19-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolores Gallagher ◽  
Larry W. Thompson ◽  
Sandra M. Levy
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Psychological Assessment

scholarly journals Validity evidence of the Zulliger-CS in older adults with Parkinson’s disease

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 560-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarete RIEN ◽  
Silvana Alba SCORTEGAGNA ◽  
Jucelaine Bier Di Domenico GRAZZIOTIN ◽  
Telma Elita BERTOLIN
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Psychological Assessment ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Comprehensive System ◽  
Clinical Group ◽  
Validity Evidence ◽  
System Variables

Abstract The ethical principles of psychological assessment include the need to use reliable tests to meet the demands of the emerging population. Therefore, the present study sought to provide evidence of validity of the Zulliger Comprehensive System (Zulliger Test in the Comprehensive System) considering the constructs: self-perception and interpersonal relationships. A total of 61 older adults of both sexes participated in the study; 30 had Parkinson’s disease (clinical group) and 31 were healthy (non-clinical group). The clinical group showed an increase in the following variables: Human detail (p = 0.02, d = 0.50); Morbid responses (p = 0.025, d = 0.62); Vista responses (p = 0.016, d = 0.72), Food Responses (p = 0.021, d = 0.61) and Decrease in human detail fictional (p = 0.012, d = -0.65) and in Personalized Responses (p = 0.003, d = -0.48). There was a positive relationship between the Zulliger Test in the Comprehensive System variables and age, income, and disease severity and a negative relationship between the Zulliger Test in the Comprehensive System variables and time since diagnosis. The results obtained confirm the validity of the Zulliger Test in the Comprehensive System and encourage further studies.

Using the CALTAP Lifespan Developmental Framework with Older Adults

GeroPsych ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-86
Author(s):  
Nancy A. Pachana ◽  
Leander K. Mitchell ◽  
Bob G. Knight
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Context ◽  
Psychological Assessment ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Original Intent ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Adult Lifespan ◽  
Cohort Differences ◽  
Developmental Theories

Conceptualizations of psychological assessment and therapy with older adults rarely refer to more generalist lifespan developmental theories. Yet such frameworks can greatly assist experienced practitioners as well as trainees and those who may be new to seeing older clients to orient themselves to specific issues and concerns of this age group. The Contextual Adult Lifespan Theory for Adapting Psychotherapy (CALTAP) model was developed as a way of both understanding clients from a lifespan perspective and adapting psychotherapy to their needs ( Knight & Poon, 2008 ). The CALTAP themes of developmental aging, social context, cohort differences, and cultural issues can inform and guide discussions regarding psychotherapy as was its original intent, but are also relevant for assessment purposes. In this paper we address how CALTAP can inform assessment as well as psychotherapy by practitioners. Moreover, we detail how the model may be used to prompt self-reflection by clients and psychologists alike.

Taking Diversity into Account

2016 ◽  
pp. 290-299
Author(s):  
Meirong Kuang ◽  
Felix-Nicolai Müller ◽  
Yang Fang ◽  
Helene H. Fung ◽  
Frieder R. Lang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Span ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Psychological Assessment ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Assessment Instruments ◽  
Everyday Functioning ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Older Adult Population ◽  
Theoretical Considerations

Psychological assessment of the older adult population must take into account the methodological issues arising from age-related diversity. This chapter begins with an overview of theoretical considerations when assessing older adults: the need to conceptualize development as a process of selective optimization and compensation over the entire life span, and the importance of containing the influences of stereotypic images of the aging process. It discusses three central issues surrounding psychological assessment of the older adult population. First, many assessment instruments currently used for older adults were originally designed and normed for younger adults. Second, statistical norms may not reflect functional norms: older adults’ performance on standardized tests may underestimate their level of everyday functioning. Third, life-span-related contextual factors can be potential conflating elements that challenge the validity of assessment instruments among older adults, whose performance may be affected by differences in goals and motivations, memory processes and strategies, and expectations.

Psychological assessment of older adults.

1998 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asenath La Rue ◽  
Jennifer Watson
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Psychological Assessment

scholarly journals RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COGNITIVE RESERVE, MOTOR RESERVE AND THALAMUS VOLUMETRY IN OLDER ADULTS

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 480-490
Author(s):  
Anete Šneidere-Šustiņa ◽  
Kristīne Šneidere ◽  
Nicholas G. Dowell ◽  
Ainārs Stepens
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Psychological Assessment ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Brain Mri ◽  
Brain Volumetry ◽  
Worldwide Population ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Structural Brain

With the increasing worldwide population, an ongoing escalation in mild cognitive impairment and dementia is predicted. Motor reserve – the cumulative physical activity experience gained throughout  life, as well as cognitive reserve – the brain’s ability to overcome a pathology, such as neurodegenerative disorders, - has been identified as protective factors in cognitive decline. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between cognitive reserve, motor reserve, and brain volumetry in older adults. 44 older adults (M = 70, SD = 5.18, 77.3% female) with no self-reported significant neurological, ongoing oncological etc. disorders that might limit their participation in the study were involved in the study. All participants underwent a thorough life-style and psychological assessment, as well as structural brain MRI analysis. Overall, our study indicated the significance of a combination of lifestyle factors in predicting thalamic volume. The results of this study indicate that life-long participation in physical, intellectual, and social activities could be beneficial for preserving the volume of thalamus, which is among the first to decline due to aging.

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