[Cartesian dualism or alchemy of medical routine practice]

Whereas alchemy postulated the unity of body and soul as early as in the 15th century, René Descartes developed an artificial separation of the body from the soul in the 17th century, a challenge that today's doctors continue to face. This problematic nature of dualism seems to be suitable for complicating the doctor's relationship with patients of different age groups. With the help of a screening technique and a semi-standardized interview 100 patients (25 women with RA aged > 65; 25 women with RA aged < 55; 25 women aged < 65 without RA and 25 women aged < 55 without RA) were examined with regard to their basic needs in the relationships with their doctor. The patients older than 65 showed characteristic psychophysical particularities and, as compared with patients younger than 55, 86% of them articulated the needs for security as primary need in the relationship with their doctor. Seventy-six percent of the younger patients articulated the need for passing on of information as primary need. To understand the world of the elderly means the handling of pseudo-morbidity, reduced capability, social death and disease as normality, means the acceptance of the need for a mainly emotional doctor-patient relationship. From the results efficient psycho-therapeutical findings can be recommended for the doctor's practical work with regard to "pitfalls," as well as for use as the basis for talks and for a method to use in dealing with elderly people.