[Psychosomatic aspects of stomatology in the aged]

Elderly people form a very large portion (43.2%) of the out-patients of the research institute for dental psychosomatics and psychopathology. Abnormal personality developments could be observed in the group of 40-60-year-old patients as often as in the over-60 group, whereas there was a noticeable rise in the number of depressions and abnormal reactions in the older age group. As one case demonstrates, the situation and life-history of an elderly patient, too, are important factors influencing his psychosomatic disturbance, in some cases however, an organic psychosyndrome may supervene, thus further complicating psychotherapy and psychagogical measures. These therapeutical methods have to be made suitable to the personality of a patient of advanced age, while medicamentous therapy and prosthetic care have to be modified in the same way.