Principles of Geropsychology

This program begins with definitions of dementia and the diseases that cause it. The Zarits review other possible causes of memory loss later in life, as well as the typical pattern of change with normal aging. Geropsychological assessment involves gathering information in a structured way to test hypotheses about the presenting problem--the steps include assembling descriptive information about the presenting problem, obtaining a history of the problem, using brief mental status tests, and selecting and administering more extensive psychological tests. The Zarits discuss when to use which test batteries and how they contribute to the overall assessment. Finally, they present case examples that illustrate key principles of assessment.