| Abstract: | Examined beliefs about the benefits that the elderly derive from psychotherapy. 414 Ss (aged 17–81 yrs) completed a questionnaire about the incidence of psychological problems, the incidence of 4 personality disorders (antisocial, compulsive, dependent, or schizoid), and the value of psychotherapy for adults 20–80 yrs old. Ss of all ages held strong biases against psychotherapy for older adults. Ratings of the value of psychotherapy and the benefits that clients could derive from psychotherapy decreased steadily with increasing target age. Such biases contribute to the limited use of psychotherapy among the elderly. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
