title: Sexuality in the older individual.
abstract: Approximately 12% of the population of the United States is over 65 and almost one quarter is over the age of 50. It is obvious from these numbers, that our older citizens constitute an ever expanding segment of our society. As a consequence of this, we as analysts and therapists must re-examine our clinical approaches to such people. A review of the sparse analytic literature dealing with the sexuality of older people is presented, as are a number of clinical examples of analytic approaches toward the sexual problems of older people. Special emphasis is given to certain transference and counter-transference phenomena encountered in such treatments.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001290:Attitude; D001828:Body Image; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000523:psychology; D005201:Fantasy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011574:Psychoanalytic Theory; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D014167:Transference, Psychology