Trauma Among Older People

Trauma Among Older Adults presents an integrative model of treatment that considers current theories of treatment in light of special considerations relating to elderly patients. The book provides case studies, vignettes, and discussions, and demonstrates the importance of considering the personality, memory, and familial history of an elderly individual who has suffered a trauma.

Leon Albert Hyer, Steven Sohnle

Preface, Aging and Trauma: Good Enough Understanding of Age, "Good Enough" Understanding of Trauma, Moderating Variables of Trauma in the Aging Person, Older People in Need of Help, Conclusion. PTSD in the Context of Aging: Prevalence of PTSD, PTSD's Historical Roots: Military Combat, What is PTSD? Oh, Well, What's in a Diagnosis? Theories of PTSD, Other Influences of Trauma, Special Problems, Conclusion. Life Story of the Aging Person: Two Faces of Aging, Life Story, Conclusion. Person and Memory: Memory Overall, Autobiographical Memory and Decline, Facts of the Aging Memory, Core Memory, Internal Organization, Schemas Personality Memories, Conclusion. Treatment: PTSD and Beyond: Overall Treatment, PTSD Treatment, Information Processing, Old Folks and Rx, Conclusion. Key Ingredients to Psychotherapy: Dosed Exposure, Goals, Relationship, Relaxation, Assimilation, Emotion: Keeping in the Zone, Presentness Power, The Marker/Reflexiveness, Integration, Little and Big Stuff, Conclusion. Treatment Model: Early Stages: Integration. Stage 1: Stabilize the Client. Stage 2: Relationship. Stage 3: Balance. Conclusion. Personality: Stage 4: Personality: PTSD and Personality. Aging and Personality. Theoretical Directions. Conclusion. Core Memory: The "Good" Memory: Narrative Perspective. Assessment of Memory. The Good Memory: PCM. Principles for PCM. Last Resort. Special Case: Constructivism. Conclusion. The Trauma Memory: The "Bad" Memory: Extant Models. Aging and the "Bad" Memory. The Trauma Memory. Aftercare and Relapse Prevention. Necessary Treatment: Family. Conclusion. Grief Work and Forgiveness in the Context of PTSD: The Self. Grief Constructs. Growth in Grief. Treatment Model. Forgiveness: The Special Ingredient of Grief Therapy. A Caution. Conclusion. Using Assessment Data to Inform the Treatment Plan: Overall Considerations. Ideographic Formulation. The Players. Measures of Comorbid Issues. Conclusion. References. Appendix A: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Application. Appendix B: Treatment Rules for Axis II. Appendix C: EMDR Relaxation Procedure. Index