[Activation of resources in elderly depressed patients. An overview of current knowledge]

Psychotherapeutic research has empirically proven the activation of resources to be a primary and pervasive activating principle. Equally empirically substantiated is psychotherapy with the aged. In the present article, the specific application of resources activation in psychotherapy for old-age depression is particularly emphasized and attempts at defining the concept of resources as well as hints towards the discovery of resources are explored. Contrary to earlier assumptions that ageing is a deficiency process, it has now been shown that despite evident losses in various life areas in aging, some resources can be defined which can be decisive for a sense of well-being among the elderly and for prophylaxis or therapy of old-age depression. Procedures and resource activation with content must be activated in parallel with problem actualization so that feelings of self-esteem and well-being increase, problems are solved and experiences of loss due to ageing are compensated. One of the most important resources among the elderly has proved to be the ability to accommodate and the social network. Group therapy as an effective and economical form of therapy as well as the therapeutic relationship itself can be employed as resources to promote social interaction among the aged.