October 22, 2008

Assisting Older Adults with Mental Illness: A Study of the Effectiveness of an Inter-disciplinary Mental Health Team

Principal Investigator: Sherry M. Cummings, PhD

This study looked at whether the care from an inter-disciplinary mental health team could increase the quality of an older adult’s mental and physical health. Results from the study showed that the patients served by the inter-disciplinary mental health team received mental health benefits (Cummings, in press).

When people with mental illnesses age, they face increasing challenges. Not only do they have to cope with the symptoms of diagnoses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, they are also simultaneously dealing with chronic illnesses, disabilities, decreased financial and social supports and stigma. The stresses of aging are difficult enough by themselves, but in combination with a mental health disorder, they can be devastating and expensive.

Currently, there is a dearth of information on community-based interventions for older persons with severe mental illness. This study was an important first step in looking at the treatment efficacy of an interdisciplinary geriatric mental health team (MHGIT) for older adults with severe mental illness. Studying 69 patients with major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other psychiatric disorders, the researcher found that the use of the interdisciplinary team to address older clients psychological, medical and social needs helped bring about a decrease in depressive symptoms, a decrease in psychiatric hospitalizations and an increase in life satisfaction (Cummings, in press). There was no overall change in physical health or on the rate of medical hospitalizations, but the mental health improvements were significant.

This study highlights the needs of our communities to develop unique responses to the challenges of older adults. Faculty and staff persons involved in this study have been integral in developing the University of Tennessee School of Social Work Geriatric Certification program and the Centerstone Older Adult Programs.

Links
Centerstone Older Adult Programsa

University School of Social Work Geriatric Certification Program

References
Cummings, S.M. (in press). Treating older persons with severe mental illness in the community: Impact of an interdisciplinary geriatric mental health team. In press: Journal of Gerontological Social Work.