Objectives:

By the end of this presentation, the participant should be able to:

Describe at least four common psychological responses to bioterrorism experienced by older adults.
List two reasons why older persons may cope more effectively with bioterrorism than younger people.
Define "self efficacy" and how it impacts an older adult's response to bioterrorism.
Identify components of a model that health care and service providers can use with older adults to promote healthy coping and empowerment in the face of bioterrorism threats/events.

Resources and References:
References used by Cathy A. Torcasio, Ph.D., Instructor at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine.

Bandura, A. (1994). Self-efficacy. In V.S. Ramachaudran (Ed.), Encyclopedia of human behavior (Vol. 4, pp. 71-81). New York : Academic Press. (Reprinted in H. Friedman {Ed.}, Encyclopedia of mental health. San Diego : Academic Press, 1998).

Blazer, D. Emotional Problems in Later Life, Intervention Strategies for Professional Caregivers. New York : Springer Publishing Co., 1990.

Galea, S., Ahern, J., Resnick, H., Kilpatrick, D., Bucuvalas, M., Gold, J., and Vlahov, D. Psychological Sequelae of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York City. New England Journal of Medicine 2002; 346 (13): 982-987

Kennedy, G.J. Geriatric Mental Health Care, A Treatment Guide for Health Professionals. New York : The Guilford Press, 2000.

Zarit, S.H. and Zarit, J.M. Mental Disorders in Older Adults, Fundamentals of Assessment and Treatment. New York : The Guilford Press,1998.

American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
http://www.aagponline.org/default.asp

http://www.healthyplace.com

Anxiety Disorders Association of America
http://www.adaa.org/index.cfm

National Institute of Mental Health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/home.cfm

http://www.APAHelpCenter.org/resilience

About the Author:

Cathy A. Torcasio, PhD, Instructor at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, teaches clinical issues in geriatric mental health care and medical interviewing skills to medical students and psychiatry residents. She is a frequent presenter at continuing education events and staff development programs. Dr. Torcasio is the facilitator of two local stroke support groups, and she is the founder/director of the Center for Stroke Information in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

As a behavioral health psychologist, Dr. Torcasio conducts assessments of and provides treatment for older adults in a variety of settings. She is on the medical staff at Summa Health System where she is involved in both research and clinical work, including outpatient geriatric assessments at the Center for Senior Health. In her role as staff psychologist for the D. Bruce Mansfield Center, Dr. Torcasio provides individual evaluations and psychotherapy to chemically dependent clients ages 50 and over. She is the psychology consultant for Bridgepark Center for Rehab Nursing in addition to maintaining a private practice.

Dr. Torcasio completed her undergraduate and graduate education at The University of Akron where she earned a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology and a graduate certificate in Life-Span Development and Gerontology. She completed her American Psychological Association-approved internship at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, and she is a licensed psychologist in the state of Ohio.