[Autogenic training in geriatric psychiatry patients]

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Psychiatry
• Psychotherapy
• Mind-Body Medicine

Context:

• Psychogeriatric inpatients often experience complex conditions like depression, dementia, and Parkinson's disease.
• These conditions frequently manifest with sleep disturbances and heightened states of restlessness.
• Traditional therapeutic approaches may have limitations in addressing these specific symptoms in the elderly population.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the efficacy of autogenic training (a.t.) as an adjunctive therapy for psychogeriatric inpatients.
• To assess the feasibility of implementing daily autogenic training exercises in a clinical setting.
• To identify key factors, such as nursing staff involvement, that contribute to successful therapeutic outcomes.

Summary:

• Autogenic training (a.t.) was administered daily to 20 psychogeriatric inpatients diagnosed with major depression, dementia, psychoneurotic disorders, and Parkinson's disease.
• Fourteen patients successfully learned and practiced basic a.t. exercises, demonstrating significant improvement, particularly in managing sleep disorders and restlessness.
• The integration and support of nursing staff were identified as vital components for the effective application of a.t. in this patient group.

Impact:

• Autogenic training shows promise as a valuable non-pharmacological intervention for managing sleep disorders and restlessness in psychogeriatric patients.
• The study highlights the importance of multidisciplinary team involvement, especially nursing staff, in facilitating the adoption of mind-body therapies in geriatric care.
• Findings suggest that autogenic training can be a feasible and successful complementary treatment, improving the quality of life for elderly individuals with complex psychiatric conditions.