Integrated psychotherapy for the elderly

The complexity of interacting variables in the geriatric patient imposes the therapeutic necessity to employ all effective therapeutic modalities in an interactive and integrated fashion. This paper examines the efficacy data on brief and longer term therapies as applied to the elderly, most particularly for treatment of depression and bereavement. In determining the development of an integrated psychotherapy treatment plan, the author suggests a decision pathway which incorporates concurrent utilization of theoretical principles derived from psychodynamic, interpersonal and cognitive behavioural theory. This tripartite approach informs the assessment and diagnosis of the patient as well as the specific choice of therapy. Directions for further research are suggested.