Psychological and Neuropsychological Testing

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Abstract

When evaluating behavioral or psychiatric concerns in an older adult, providers will need to be familiar with screens that are used to help identify common mental disorders in older adults. Many screening instruments designed to assess anxiety or depression have not been validated for individuals with dementia, so it is helpful to take a broader approach to include screens for cognitive impairment when using mood or anxiety screening tools. This chapter will review commonly used screens to assess personality, depression, suicidal ideation and anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders in older adults. Cognitive changes associated with normal aging, review of commonly used cognitive screens, and an overview of neuropsychological assessment in older adults will follow.

Keywords

Depression Anxiety and cognitive screens Normal cognitive aging Age-associated cognitive impairment Neuropsychological testing 
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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2018

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonUSA
  2. 2.William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans HospitalMadisonUSA

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