title: [Ptophobia: the fear of falling in elderly people].
abstract: Falling is a serious problem for the elderly which consequences--fractures, other lesions and the fear of falling--may result in auto-restrictions in daily living activities, producing immobility and accelerating the physical decline associated with aging. The ptophobia (phobic fear of falling) is characterized by an out-of-control fear of walking, even without locomotion alteration, loss of self-esteem and social isolation. Interventions for the prevention and treatment of the falling fear in the elderly are very important to assure a good quality of life. Psychotherapy and physical rehabilitation have been related as ways of treatment of ptophobia in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação Strito Sensu em Gerontologia, Universidade Católica de Brasilia, Brasil.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gai
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jansen De Cárdenas