Stiftung Warentest - Why psychotherapy is still beneficial in old age
Many people think that they can no longer learn anything in old age or that they can no longer change. This is a dangerous fallacy when it comes to mental illness. It is true that depression is no more common in older people than in young people. However, according to Deutsche Depressionshilfe (German Depression Aid), mild depression or depression in which not all symptoms occur is two to three times more common in older people.
Stiftung Warentest advises people aged 65 and over to take psychological problems seriously and not to shy away from seeing a psychotherapist if they are experiencing mental problems. Your family doctor can be the first port of call.
Symptoms are misinterpreted
Symptoms of depression such as withdrawal from social circles, memory problems or a depressed mood are often not taken seriously in older people - dismissed as old-age aches and pains. Depression is often overlooked in older people because the depressed mood is attributed to physical ailments, reports Stiftung Warentest. People suffering from depression often perceive existing problems as being worse than they actually are. If this is more often related to work in younger people, in older people it is often health complaints such as back problems.
Psychotherapy in old age: shyness among patients
"Both patients and practitioners have grown up with the image that old age means decline and loss, but not the ability to change," says psychology professor Meinolf Peters, who heads the Institute for Psychotherapy in Old Age in Marburg, to Stiftung Warentest. The result: many older people don't even think about starting psychotherapy. This means that sufferers don't even think about seeking psychotherapy. Some psychotherapists are reluctant to treat older people because of the same assumption.
Another point that prevents older people in particular from starting therapy is that mental illnesses used to be more stigmatized. People didn't want to be seen as crazy and didn't really trust therapy, says Peters.
However, psychotherapy can help with mental health problems at any age. There are special forms of therapy for older people. For example, life review therapy, in which patients can look back on their lives, take stock and reconcile with them.
You can find more information in the fee-based guide from Stiftung Warentest
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Despite the common misconception that depression is less prevalent in older individuals, mild depression or depression with incomplete symptoms is twice as common in older people, according to Deutsche Depressionhilfe. Consequently, it's important to tackle psychological issues in old age, and Stiftung Warentest advises seeking psychotherapy if needed, especially when symptoms such as withdrawal, memory problems, or a depressed mood are overlooked or misinterpreted. Some older individuals and psychotherapists may shy away from psychotherapy due to stigmas or assumptions about aging, but specialized forms of therapy like life review therapy can effectively help manage mental health issues at any age.
Source: www.stern.de
