The United Nations reports that between 2017 and 2050, the number of the world’s adults
older than age 60 is expected to double to approximately 2.1 billion.1 It is also estimated that
over 15% of older adults suffer from a psychiatric disorder.2 There is a great need for
evidence-based treatments specific to later life, as physical and psychological aging, medical
comorbidity, unique psychosocial stressors, and other challenges affect the presentation of
psychiatric disorders and the suitability of treatment approaches for this population.
A significant proportion of the medical literature focuses on pharmacotherapy for psychiatric
disorders among older adults. However, there is substantial data highlighting the
efficacy of psychotherapy among older adults and the acceptability and tolerability of
psychotherapy over pharmacotherapy in this group as well. Drs. Tampi, Yarns, and Zdanys,
together with Ms. Tampi, recognized the need to concisely synthesize available evidence and
provide a stimulus for wider implementation of psychotherapy for the treatment of older
adults, and thus Psychotherapy in Later Life was developed.