Loneliness: Science and Practice

The internet, social media platforms, and digital technology all seem to point to a world of greater interconnectivity and social connection. Yet even against this background of global social networks, loneliness remains a major issue for millions of individuals, and one with tangible consequences: studies have demonstrated that loneliness correlates with to an increased risk of mental illnesses, as well as a 45% increased risk of death. In Loneliness: Science and Practice, experts from the United States and Europe seek to construct a translational framework for recognizing and addressing loneliness in the clinical context. Based on the latest literature on the topic, the book tackles • The theoretical foundations of loneliness and other dimensions of social connection. Readers will benefit from validated rating scales to measure loneliness that account for the varied experiences of, and factors that contribute to, loneliness. • The incidence and presentation of loneliness throughout the life cycle • Loneliness among marginalized communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, and individuals with mental illnesses • The neurobiological and systemic neuroendocrine and inflammatory mechanisms of loneliness • Interventions for loneliness, from research-based interventions for both younger and older age groups to community-based interventions Throughout this guide, clinical vignettes help ground the theoretical information in real-world applicability. Key points help readers reference each chapter's most salient points quickly, and lists of suggested readings open the door to further exploration. By examining the psychosocial and biological mechanisms of loneliness, as well as the unique social and cultural contexts in which it can occur, Loneliness: Science and Practice offers readers a holistic understanding of loneliness and a framework for addressing it in the distinct communities they serve.

Dilip V. Jeste, M.D., is Former Senior Associate Dean for Healthy Aging and Senior Care and Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosciences at the University of California, San Diego, in La Jolla, California, and Past President of the American Psychiatric Association. Tanya T. Nguyen, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging at the University of California, San Diego, in La Jolla, California. Nancy J. Donovan, M.D., is Chief of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at Brigham and Women's Hospital, an Associate Researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital, and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.