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Division of Geriatric Psychiatry

Geriatric Psychiatry is a field of medicine dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders in older adults. These disorders include dementia, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, and late-life schizophrenia.  The Geriatric Psychiatrist has specialized training in the special physical, emotional, and social needs of older patients that allows for a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment.  Such care includes listening and responding to the concerns of the older adult, helping families, and when necessary, working with other health care professionals to develop effective approaches to treatment. Co-existing medical illnesses, medications, family issues, social concerns, and environmental issues are integrated into a comprehensive program of care.

In addition to providing clinical care, Duke Geriatric Psychiatrists are actively involved in research of mental disorders of older adults.  This research covers a broad range and includes clinical trials of new medications for mood disorders and dementia, understanding the role of psychotherapy in geriatric depression, neuroimaging findings in mood and cognitive disorders, the importance of religion in mental health, and medical and cognitive consequences of mood disorders.

The Division of Geriatric Psychiatry also has an educational mission.  The Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship Program trains physicians who have completed general psychiatry training and wish to specialize in geriatric psychiatry.  Faculty in the Division also train general residents and medical students at Duke.  Equally important are the educational programs provided by Division Faculty for non-psychiatric physicians and other health providers in the community as well as for the general public.

The Office of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry is located in Duke South Hospital, Room 3547 Blue Zone.  The Division Staff Assistant, Ms. Judy Ridley, can be reached at 919-681-8536.

Correspondence may be sent to:
David C. Steffens, M.D.
Head, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry
Duke University Medical Center
Box 3903
Durham, NC  27710

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Faculty

David C. Steffens, M.D., Division Head, Professor of Psychiatry and Medicine

Mugdha E. Thakur, M.D., Geriatric Psychiatry Training Program Director,
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry

Andree Allen, M.D., Consulting Associate in Psychiatry
Peter Barboriak, M.D., Ph.D., Consulting Associate in Psychiatry
John L. Beyer, M.D., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Dan G. Blazer, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry
John C.S. Breitner, M.D., M.P.H., Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry
Michael Wei-Liang Chee, M.B.B.S., Adjunct Associate Professor
Harold W. Goforth, M.D., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Kathleen Hayden, Ph.D., Assistant Research Professor of Psychiatry
Judith C. Hays, R.N., Ph.D., Associate Research Professor of Nursing and Psychiatry
Tracey C. Holsinger, M.D., Consulting Associate in Psychiatry
Celia F. Hybels, Ph.D., Assistant Research Professor of Psychiatry
Harold G. Koenig, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry
Madan M. Kwatra, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Psychiatry
Barbara G. Mattox, M.D., Consulting Associate in Psychiatry
Jody W. Miller, M.D., Consulting Associate in Psychiatry
Stephen L. Oxley, M.D., Assistant Consulting Professor of Psychiatry
Carol Saur, MSN, Clinical Associate in Psychiatry
Frauke C. Schaefer, M.D., Consulting Associate in Psychiatry
Warren Taylor, M.D., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Lihong Wang, M.D., Assistant Research Professor
John W. Williams, Jr., M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry
Robert E. Williams, M.D., Clinical Associate in Psychiatry

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Clinical Care

Clinical Care in Geriatric Psychiatry
There are a variety of geriatric mental health clinics at Duke.

  • For comprehensive evaluation, including both geriatric internal medicine specialists and geriatric psychiatrists, please call the Geriatric Evaluation and Treatment (GET) Clinic at 919-620-4070.
  • For evaluation and treatment of memory and behavioral problems related to Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, please call the Neurological Disorders Clinic at 919-668-7600.
  • For evaluation and treatment of Mood or Anxiety Disorders by a geriatric psychiatrist, please call 919-684-0102.
  • For evaluation of sleep disorders, please call 681-8788.
  • To find out about clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease and Geriatric Depression, please call the Duke Psychiatric Clinical Trials Office at 919-684-3497.

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Research

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