Untreated anxiety and depressive disorders in older adults are associated with poorer physical health, increased risks for disability and mortality, social isolation and loneliness, and increased costs of service use. Key barriers to accessing evidence-based care include cost of treatment, limited access to mental health services, difficulties with transportation, and the perception among older adults and practitioners that anxiety and depression symptoms are normal, given older adults’ age or health conditions. 

This webinar will provide an overview of current evidence on effective management of anxiety and depressive disorders in older adults. Evidence-based techniques for screening and managing late-life anxiety and depression, including recommendations for basic modifications to conducting psychological treatment with older adults.  

Learning Outcomes

• Increased knowledge in identifying anxiety and depression in older adults by recognising age-related presentations of symptoms and using appropriate screening tools
• Increased knowledge in the current evidence base for psychological treatments of late-life anxiety and depression, including key evidence-based treatment approaches
• Increased knowledge in considerations for treatment adaptations using evidence-based psychological treatment techniques, including basic modifications to treatment delivery.

Presented by:

Dr Jessamine Chen, Research Fellow and Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Macquarie University Lifespan Health and Wellbeing Research Centre

Target audience: AHPs, GPs and Nurses