Psychologists in practice with older adults: Current patterns, sources of training, and need for continuing education.

Rapid population growth among older adults means an increased need for psychologists prepared to provide mental health services to this population. A representative survey of 1,227 practitioner members of the American Psychological Association yielded information about current patterns of practice with older adults, sources of training in geropsychology, perceived need for continuing education (CE) in geropsychology, and preferred CE formats. Most respondents provided some services to older adults, but typically very little. The services provided are inadequate to meet projected demand. Most respondents lacked formal training in geropsychology and perceived themselves as needing additional training. CE workshops at the regional level and distance education were the most popular formats. These data serve as a call to the field to expand training opportunities at all levels of training, with an emphasis on the need for empirically based, broadly accessible CE offerings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Depression and memory impairment: A meta-analysis of the association, its pattern, and specificity.

The existing evidence paints an unclear picture of whether an association exists between depression and memory impairment. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether depression is associated with memory impairment, whether moderator variables determine the extent of this association, and whether any obtained association is unique to depression. Meta-analytic techniques were used to synthesize data from 99 studies on recall and 48 studies on recognition in clinically depressed and nondepressed samples. Associations between memory impairment and other psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, dementia) were also examined. A significant, stable association between depression and memory impairment was revealed. Further analyses indicated, however, that it is likely that depression is linked to particular aspects of memory, the linkage is found in particular subsets of depressed individuals, and memory impairment is not unique to depression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Employment opportunities for geropsychologists.

Surveyed 224 hospitals, community mental health centers, nursing homes, graduate departments of psychology, and hospices in California, Michigan, New York, and Texas as to their present and future levels of providing services to the aging and their interest in hiring geropsychologists. The most prevalent geropsychological activities were therapy, assessment, and community consultation. Although only 10% of respondents were interested in hiring geropsychologists at present, 43% reported interest in hiring in the future. The greatest interest in hiring was expressed by community mental health centers and hospitals. Regionally, New York expressed the greatest interest. Consistent with the recognized discrepancy between the extensive mental health needs of the elderly and the availability of appropriate professional care, the results document that the employment market for geropsychologists is considerably underdeveloped. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mary Starke Harper (1919-2006).

Presents an obituary for Mary Starke Harper, a leading authority on mental health care for minorities and the aged. Harper earned a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in nursing education with a psychiatric nursing clinical specialty. She moved unpretentiously among the politically influential, showing tireless drive and tenacity on behalf of her causes. She served as an advisor on mental health and aging for Presidents Carter, Reagan, G. H. W. Bush, and Clinton; directed the Office of Policy Development and Research for the 1981 White House Conference on Aging; served as a consultant for the 1995 White House Conference on Aging; and cochaired the Clinton administration's Mental Health/Public Sector Task Force for Healthcare Reform. After formal retirement in 1995, she remained an active, outspoken advocate for improved mental health care for minorities and the aged. She served as an expert adviser on women's health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a member of the National Institute of Aging's National Advisory Council, a state of Alabama trustee on mental health, and a consultant or member of the board of directors for a wide array of other organizations, foundations, and universities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)