[Reality of psychotherapeutic care with regard to outpatient psychotherapy of elderly people in Münsterland (Westfalia)].
The need for efficacy of geriatric psychotherapy as well specialized training in geriatric psychosomatics and psychotherapy is commonly recognized amongst professionals. Despite this, this knowledge is not reflected in everyday life. One consequence of this is that psychotherapy for elderly patients is still the exception. We conducted a study in which 478 practicing psychotherapists in Münsterland (Westfalia) were surveyed by mail questionnaire regarding the number and main diagnosis of their patients of greater than 50 years of age, as well as the elderly-specific therapies or future plans for such therapies they might have. The response rate was 65% (312 psychotherapists who answered the questionnaire). The results showed that patients older than 60 years of age were greatly underrepresented compared to younger patients. Moreover, specific therapies, such as age-specific psychotherapy in groups, were rare. To date, it seems that only a minority of elderly patients with psychiatric and psychosomatic diseases are treated adequately by psychotherapy in the outpatient sector. This was evident even in a region such as Münsterland, which has plentiful psychotherapeutic resources.
Imai
T
T
Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatikund Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Domagkstr. 22, 48149, Münster, Germany.
Telger
K
K
Wolter
D
D
Heuft
G
G
D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*