Designed to provide both scholar and clinician with the current state of scientific understanding and the practical skills and knowledge base required for dealing with mental disorders in late life. This volume's 54 scholars represent an eclectic mix of distinguished psychiatrists and colleagues from relevant biomedical and behavioral disciplines. Covering both important psychiatric disorders and normal aging changes, all the chapters of this compendium have been scientifically reviewed and updated. Divided into five major parts, the Textbook's topics begin with the basic science of geriatric psychiatry, continue with the diagnostic interview and psychiatric disorders and treatment, and conclude with coverage of legal, ethical, and policy issues and the past and future of geriatric psychatry.