Wednesday, 2 April 2003

This presentation is part of : Mental health services and quality of life in the elderly

Methodological Complexity in Outpatients Caring: An Italian Experience

Fredrica Paola Imperatori, Specialization School in Psychiatry, Specialization School in Psychiatry, University of East Piedmont “A. Avogadro", Novara, Italy

Objective: This work offers some observation about treatment complexity in psychogeriatric outpatients at a mountain Psychiatric Service in Italy.

Design: Through the exposition of a few case reports we want to exemplify the differentiated methodology we need to apply in caring for the elderly with mental diseases, that present a lot of different living conditions in their own environment.

Materials and Methods: The work presents for each case report: a brief personal story; clinical notes; environment and logistic factors; psychological, symbolical and relational factors; drugs used; psychotherapeutic or relational support; welfare or other milieu-related support. The data are also considered by the C.G. Jung Analytical Psychology point of view.

Results: Different basic condition of outpatients needs different patterns of psychogeriatric intervention to achieve caring results appropriate to individual case.

Conclusion: An integrated, complex approach seems to be required to treat aged outpatients and is urged to provide for a suitable health workers training.

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