One of the most important challenges for public health over the next decades is the fact that the proportion of elderly people is the fastest growing segment in the population as a whole. Clinicians in every part of the world will need greater knowledge about diagnosing and treating elderly people with complex conditions, somatic as well as psychiatric. In recent years we have seen many books which focus on depression in late life, but with the appearance of Mood Disorders in Later Life the reader gets a very valuable book that examines the whole spectrum of, and conditions related to, the management of mood disorders in the elderly.

In this second edition, we get a solid and comprehensive overview of the existing literature in the field. The second edition differs from the first by incorporating expert contributions from several countries and the editors succeed in assembling the separate chapters into a homogeneous whole of high quality. Through 19 chapters the reader gets an up-to-date knowledge of the most clinically relevant aspects of the important geriatric conditions.

The chapters dealing with epidemiological aspects, compliance and substance use disorders represent an important contribution for the organization of the regimens at individual hospitals, but also for general healthcare planning which, in years to come, will have to manage growing numbers of people in need of treatment. The chapter on vascular depression captures the increasing knowledge in this area with high clinical relevance. The book gives a good survey of the complications that can arise in the treatment of elderly people who are expected to live longer in the future. Most recent literature concerns unipolar depression but this edition also deals with the particular aspects of bipolar disorder. Especially noteworthy and welcome is the chapter on electroconvulsive therapy, which is still a potent treatment option for more complicated and devastating mood disorders. Here the book also brings inspiration to clinicians who might overlook this as an alternative in cases of treatment resistance and supports the clinician in starting a dialogue with patients as well as relatives if electroconvulsive therapy is an option.

All in all, with this book on the bookshelf or in the professional library, clinicians will have a useful instrument to help overcome the most prominent barriers connected with treatment and diagnosing mood disorders among the elderly, including those with cognitive impairment or dementia. It gives a thorough introduction to evidence-based treatment, pharmacological as well as psychotherapeutic, and an update on the latest neuropsychiatric diagnosis, treatment techniques and challenges for research. It should also be noted that the book deals with the particular aspects of diagnosis and treatment in patients of various ethnic backgrounds, aspects which will be increasingly important in the future. However, comment is mainly confined to ethnic groups found in the U.S.A. This fact unfortunately makes the chapter less useful for clinicians in other parts of the world. Another aspect that might be improved in the next edition would be to have more focus on prevention and rehabilitation, which will become one of the greatest challenges of the future.

The book is highly recommended for professionals dealing with diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders in the whole spectrum of affective disorders among the elderly. Given the price, the book is most likely to find a place on the bookshelves of doctors, psychologists and other professional groups with a specialized interest in this field, but is of great relevance for any clinician working with elderly people.