Innovative psychosocial approaches in old age psychiatry.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and discuss recent research studies that propose innovative psychosocial interventions in old age psychiatry.


RESULTS
Studies have shown that cognitive training research for healthy elderly has advanced in several ways, particularly in the refinement of study design and methodology. Studies have included larger samples and longer training protocols. Interestingly, new research has shown changes in biological markers associated with learning and memory after cognitive training. Among mild cognitive impairment patients, results have demonstrated that they benefit from interventions displaying cognitive plasticity.Rehabilitation studies involving dementia patients have suggested the efficacy of combined treatment approaches, and light and music therapies have shown promising effects. For psychiatric disorders, innovations have included improvements in well known techniques such as cognitive behavior therapy, studies in subpopulations with comorbidities, as well as the use of new computer-aided resources.


CONCLUSIONS
Research evidence on innovative interventions in old age psychiatry suggests that this exciting field is moving forward by means of methodological refinements and testing of creative new ideas.
Yassuda
Mônica Sanches
MS
School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. yassuda@usp.br
Nunes
Paula Villela
PV
D000368:Aged; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003704:Dementia / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods