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Updated: Jul 9, 2026
06:52
Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
[Conversion disorder in the elderly].
Florence Dibie-Racoupeau1, Véronique Chavane, Jean-Pierre Clément
1Département de Gérontopsychiatrie Rive-Droite, CH Saint-Jean-de-Dieu, Lyon, France. fdibieracoupeau@arhm-sjd.fr
Psychologie & Neuropsychiatrie Du Vieillissement
|December 1, 2007
Summary
The study examines somatization disorders, where mental health issues manifest as physical symptoms, particularly in older adults. Understanding these somatic presentations is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment in the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Geriatrics
- Psychosomatic Medicine
Context:
- Current diagnostic systems (DSM-III and ICD-10) have fragmented the concept of neurosis, including hysteria.
- This has led to a focus on somatization and "somatoform disorders" as a way to understand physical symptoms linked to mental distress.
- Somatic symptoms can represent specific behaviors related to perceiving illness, especially in the context of unusual physical sensations.
Purpose:
- To explore the concept of somatization and its manifestations within current psychiatric and medical frameworks.
- To analyze the unique presentation and clinical significance of somatic disorders in the elderly population.
- To highlight the importance of recognizing and managing somatic symptoms in older adults, considering their specific psychosocial context.
Summary:
- The dismemberment of neurosis and hysteria in modern classifications necessitates a re-evaluation of somatization.
- Somatic disorders, often linked to depression or anxiety, are reframed under "somatoform disorders" and new categories of somatic symptoms.
- In the elderly, somatic expression lacks specificity but is common and often overlooked, requiring clinical vigilance.
- The mind-body connection is particularly relevant in older individuals facing end-of-life issues and bereavement.
Impact:
- Emphasizes the need for a nuanced clinical approach to somatic complaints in the elderly.
- Suggests that a structural, event-driven, and psychodynamic assessment is vital for understanding these presentations.
- Aims to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient care for elderly individuals experiencing somatization.
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