title: Roses in December: imaginary companions in the elderly.
abstract: This paper focuses on one mental mechanism used in alleviating distress viz. illusion. Three patients are discussed with particular reference to their use of this mechanism. Some relevant literature is reviewed.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005201:Fantasy; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D012017:Referral and Consultation