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THE PROBLEM OF DEATH AND DYING IN THE GERIATRIC PATIENT *
Author(s) -
Wolff Kurt
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1970.tb02572.x
Subject(s) - personality psychology , feeling , medicine , personality , fear of death , perception , psychiatry , psychoanalysis , social psychology , psychology , neuroscience
A bstract The attitude of geriatric patients toward aging and death was studied in: (a) 90 psychiatric patients classified according to six personality types, and (b) 340 psychiatric patients (chronic brain syndrome or schizophrenic reaction) who were in contact with reality and could express their ideas coherently. The attitudes of these patients toward death ranged from lack of any special concern (in the passive‐dependent and schizoid personalities) to a great fear (in the other four personality groups). In 85 per cent of the 340 patients in the second study, the problems of death and dying played an important role in their emotions; moreover, 92 per cent were uncertain about their goals and values in life. The psychiatrist has the task of helping to change the image of aging not only in the elderly but in our society. Old people need assistance in identifying or changing their life values. More important to the patient than “life hereafter” is his belief that he has not lived and is not now living in vain. This perception of self‐esteem engenders a feeling of serenity. The psychiatrist's therapeutic goal should be to convey hope, re‐establish confidence, and thus counteract the fear of death.