Geriatric Psychiatry in South Asia

This book is about the current status and ways ahead of geriatric psychiatry in South Asia. South Asia is home to a large proportion of the world’s elderly. With improved longevity, the geriatric population is increasing fast in recent years in South Asian countries. Along with this, the mental health burden of the older adults is increasing. However, mental health care of older adults in South Asia is a neglected area. Little is known about the burden of mental disorders and available mental health services specific for the older adults population in South Asia and other low and middle income countries.

It is well known that resources are fewer in this region, and most of the older adults in these areas are not recognized or treated. There is a urgent need to explore the services available, their appropriateness and effectiveness, and to reflect on the region-specific, economically viable solutions that can be adapted soon. The book discusses how these services can be seamlessly integrated to the existing support systems. Besides the interventional aspects, the book also explores the facilitating and impeding factors of implementing evidence-based preventive efforts in these countries.