Mental health problems

摘要

Recent reports have highlighted the needs of older people with mental health problems. Mental health problems are underrecognised and undertreated in primary care. The use of guidelines and standardised screening instruments may improve this. Caring for a person with dementia is stressful, and carers' needs are being increasingly recognised. Carer interventions in people with dementia have been shown to be effective in randomised controlled trials. Depression, the commonest mental health disorder in later life, is eminently treatable, but psychological therapies are underused.