Aktualisierungstendenz als Entwicklungspotenzial im Alter: Wie kann der Personzentrierte Ansatz in der Gerontopsychiatrie dabei förderlich sein?

Abstract

Actualizing tendency as a potential for development in the elderly — How does the person-centred approach benefit this
process in gerontopsychiatry? The person-centred approach in the treatment of mental disorders in the elderly is conveyed using professional experience and the psychosocial situation of elderly people. The postulate of actualizing tendency confers a potential for continued development into the advanced years of life. Mental disorders may appear for the first time in old age or have existed previously. Incongruence is reciprocally influenced by the enormous effort to manage the challenges of aging. The theoretical conception of the person-centred approach precludes a normative reduction of the diverse experience of this heterogeneous age group. To alleviate admission to psychotherapy, professionals are called upon to engage in an extended motivating period as well as not applying an exclusively verbal-explorative determined indication criteria as expression of incongruence. In addition to disorder-specific treatment, optimal care requires interdisciplinary teamwork and smooth transitions between psychotherapy, counselling and practical support.