Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift
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Wien Med Wochenschr · Jan 2003
[The geriatric psychiatry patient--a new indications field for psychotherapy?].
Despite the fact that 9% of the elderly would need psychotherapeutic treatment, only 1% of the applications for such treatment were initiated by the elderly. Older people often lack the ability to verbalize their emotional problems, which is an obvious prerogative for expressing the wish for psychotherapy. However elderly people tend to indulge in childhood memories, and therefore would be excellent candidates for psychoanalytic-orientated treatment. ⋯ Psychotherapy in a narrow sense is indicated when the psychic structure, the mental flexibility and the motivational state are quite good and if differentiated verbal interactions are possible. In a broader sense, psychotherapy stands for actional and training aspects, and integral environmental and socio-therapeutic treatment so that autonomy and quality of life can be properly improved. This definition of psychotherapy makes it obvious that demented and care-dependent patients are potential candidates for psychotherapy.