CBT for Older People: An Introduction

About Kenneth Laidlaw

Professor Ken Laidlaw is Head of Department of Clinical Psychology and Programme Director of the ClinPsyD Clinical Psychology Training Programme within the Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia (UEA). Professor Laidlaw is also currently honorary consultant clinical psychologist with Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Trust having for many years served as Professional Lead of an Older Adult Clinical Psychology Service in Scotland. He maintains active and ongoing research activity in cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for late life depression and anxiety especially with complex chronic and comorbid conditions. From 2000 to 2001 he was invited to spend a year at University of Pennsylvania (PENN) in Philadelphia with Aaron T. Beck the father of CBT as visiting scholar. He has a long and productive association with Professors Larry W. Thompson and Dolores Gallagher-Thompson at Stanford University California USA. He was the Principal Investigator on the first UK RCT of CBT for late Life depression. His manual for this trial has subsequently been used in other clinical trials. He also led the development of a cross-cultural Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire (AAQ) that was pilot and field trialed in 20 countries worldwide. This is now used widely in international trials. His conceptualization framework for CBT with older people is part of the National (England) IAPT curriculum materials for HI IAPT workers. He authored the older adults section of the evidence-based guide to the commissioning of psychological therapies for the NHS in Scotland (The Matrix NES 2011).