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Geriatric Psychopathology — Internal or External? *
Author(s) -
FEIGENBAUM ELLIOTT M.
Publication year - 1974
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.1532-5415.1974.tb06268.x
Subject(s) - medicine , psychopathology , psychiatry , depression (economics) , context (archaeology) , geriatrics , paleontology , biology , economics , macroeconomics
The major psychiatric illness is depression. In the elderly this may be precipitated by internal psychic problems, but external complications can be added by ineffectual attempts to help by inadequately trained health professionals. The low utilization of psychiatric services by the aged may be explained on the basis of the attitudes of both patients and clinicians. Three main factors determine the patient's decision to consult a physician. The patient must recognize that: 1) a psychiatric disturbance is present, 2) that this disturbance is alien, and 3) that help is available. When such services are offered, the elderly will recognize their need for them. Two specific areas of clinical practice with geriatric patients are stressed; these involve drug problems and sexual problems. When stereotyped attitudes are replaced by attention to the underlying pathology, and treatment goals are formulated in the context of good psychiatric practice, the elderly will profit by psychiatric therapy and have a better life in their remaining days. The rates of success in treatment are just as high as with younger patients.