Psychotherapy for the elderly: Psychotherapists' preferences.

Abstract

Psychotherapists' preference ratings indicate that they prefer to treat young clients over middle-aged clients and these over older clients. Preferences for treating older clients were related to the extent of the therapists' professional experience and knowledge of geriatric psychotherapy, as opposed to therapeutic orientation or degree of personal contact with older adults. Overall, therapists' preferences for treating different clients appeared to be related to perception of prognoses for different client groups.The present study examines the relationship between psychotherapists' preferences for treating persons over 65 years of age and the therapists' knowledge of, experience with, and exposure to psychotherapy with older adults. It has been well documented that older adults (persons aged 65 and older) suffer disproportionately from mental This study is based on the second author's doctoral dissertation. A previous version of this article was presented at the 1986 meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology in

Psychodynamic work and older adults

“…Zivian et al (1992) have shown that therapists prefer to work with younger patients. Old age psychiatrists have tended to concentrate more on physical and social aspects and less attention has been given to the emotional life of patients, with consequent failure to recognise the potential for psychodynamic intervention.…”

Mutual Biases Underlying the Problematic Relationship between Older Adults and Mental Health Providers: Any Solution in Sight?

“…Three sub-groups who viewed elderly patients negatively tended to deliver more pessimistic prognoses of seniors than did other psychiatrists: psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychiatrists versus eclectic therapists, women versus men, and psychiatrists certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology versus non-certified psychiatrists. In a similar vein, a study conducted by Zivian, Larsen, Knox, Gekoski, and Hatchette (1992) found that most of the 165 therapists surveyed (primarily psychiatrists and psychologists) preferred to treat young clients over middle-aged clients and the latter over elderly clients. However, neither the therapist's particular therapeutic orientation, knowledge of, or contact with, older adults was related to their preference ratings for working with these patients.…”

Handbook of Neuropsychology and Aging

“…Tacit beliefs that treatment efforts directed at the psychological problems of the elderly are "not worth the candle" (Freud, 1924) appear to persist among mental health professionals and extend equally to the general public (Zivian, Larsen, Gekowski, Knox, & Hatchette, 1994;Zivian, Larsen, Knox, Gekowski, & Hatchette, 1992). Thus, despite empirical evidence to the contrary, beliefs discounting the value and benefit of psychotherapy in older adults exist in many facets of today's society.…”