Date Published: 2 August 2005
US nationwide shortage of researchers trained in geriatric mental health
The University of Rochester Medical Center (NY, USA) has received a $984,000 grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to support the training of physicians and scientists for research careers in geriatric mental health.
The needs of the elderly are as varied as those of any other group. However, a key consideration that distinguishes senior citizens from other age groups is that this is the fastest growing group (in terms of numbers of people, and percentage of population) in many modern western societies.
In 2003, the number of persons aged 65 years or older was 35.9 million*, a number expected to nearly double in the next 25 years.
A need has been identified for increased specialist knowledge and skills to work with the psychiatric needs of older people. One justification for this is research indicating that approximately one third of older adults have a mental disorder at any given time (United States Statistics*).
Geriatric Mental Health issues are psychiatric concerms that pertain to older people specifically. This is closely related to the discipline of Gerontology which is concerned with the normal changes in mind and body that occur during the ageing process.
Jeffrey M. Lyness, M.D., director of the Program in Geriatrics and Neuropsychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center said:
"America is aging, at least one third of older people suffer from a mental disorder, and yet we have a critical, nationwide shortage of researchers trained in geriatric mental health
_Mental health problems like depression and dementias cause as much suffering as common medical conditions like heart disease and cancer, and we urgently need more researchers to identify fundamental disease mechanisms and develop the treatments of the future."
The Program in Geriatrics and Neuropsychiatry at the medical center includes more than 15 M.D. and Ph.D. faculty members and has received national and international recognition for the quality of its clinical care, teaching, and research. The NIMH Training grant will support the three-year appointment of three postdoctoral research fellows to develop the skills necessary to become successful, independent researchers.
Dr. Lyness also commented on the difficulties faced by young researchers wishing to secure funding for research projects following traditional doctoral training. He has also recently received a related NIMH Mid-Career Investigator Award of $679,000 to support his efforts to mentor junior researchers and to continue the study of depression in older adults.
Source: University of Rochester Medical Center, New York.
www.urmc.rochester.edu/pr
