Psychotherapy with older adults in primary care medical settings

Whereas many older adults are hesitant to seek psychotherapy in traditional mental health settings, primary care medical settings offer many advantage s in reaching underserved elderly clients with a variety of mental disorder s. The present article reviews the growing importance of primary care in ou r health care system and as a setting to reach clients in need of psychothe rapy; important issues for psychotherapists interested in practicing in pri mary care medical settings: and special issues in treating older adults in primary care. Case studies illustrate varied approaches to psychotherapy wi th older adults and their families in primary care, with such problems as d epression, alcohol abuse, and dementia. Adaptations to conventional psychot herapy necessitated by the primary care setting are highlighted. (C) 1999 J ohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.