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On-Demand
AAGP Certificate Program in Geriatric Mental Health

Assessment of Older Adults with Mental Health Disorders

Syeda Arshiya Farheen, MD
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Description

This course provides a comprehensive framework for the psychiatric assessment of older adults, integrating current best practices with practical clinical tools. Participants will learn structured approaches to evaluating memory, mood, cognition, substance use, and safety, along with strategies for gathering collateral information and conducting physical, neurological, and functional assessments. The program also incorporates guidance on appropriate, non-ageist terminology when describing older adults in clinical and academic contexts. Case-based examples and assessment demonstrations will reinforce skills essential for psychiatrists, geriatricians, advanced practice providers, psychologists, social workers, and other professionals providing mental health care to older adults.

Educational Goal

To strengthen participants’ knowledge and applied skills in the psychiatric assessment of older adults by providing hands-on instruction in validated screening tools, structured history-taking, functional and safety evaluations, and differential diagnosis strategies. The program will emphasize the integration of psychiatric, cognitive, medical, and social data into cohesive assessments that inform accurate diagnosis and person-centered care plans.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Discuss the epidemiology of common mental health disorders among older adults, including the prevalence, risk factors, and demographic trends that shape clinical practice.

  • Implement a comprehensive assessment process for older adults, including structured psychiatric history-taking, functional and safety evaluations, collateral gathering, physical and neurological exams, and the use of validated tools.

  • Apply evidence-based treatments and practice considerations for managing mental health disorders in older adults, emphasizing best practices for tailoring interventions to comorbid medical conditions, polypharmacy concerns, and social/environmental contexts.

Presenters

Syeda Arshiya Farheen, MD
Dr. Syeda Arshiya Farheen is a dedicated and accomplished psychiatrist serving in multiple leadership and academic roles within the field of behavioral health. She received her medical degree from Kakatiya Medical College in Warangal, India, graduating in 2012. She then completed her psychiatry residency at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, finishing in 2020. Followed by a Geriatric Psychiatry fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine, completed in 2021. She is the Associate Director of the Psychiatry Residency Program and the Site Director for the Rural Track Psychiatry Residency Program at Creighton University School of Medicine, where she also holds the position of Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry. Dr. Farheen's multifaceted expertise significantly contributes to shaping the next generation of psychiatric professionals, fostering innovation in medical education, and improving access to behavioral healthcare across diverse populations. Dr. Farheen's interests are neurodegenerative disorders and psychiatric disorders in late life.

Financially Sponsored By

  • American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP)