[Possibilities and limitations of treatment and care; psychotherapy, psychosomatic medicine and social therapy].

A short discourse describing the better known treatment modalities in the area of psychotherapy and psychosocial therapy is followed by an explanation of different areas of use (methods of implimentation, types of treatment-groups, and institutional as well as other relevant influences). This is presented with special regard to the situation in the Federal Republic of Germany (W. Germany). Worthy of special emphasis is the discrepancy between the existing needs for such treatment possibilities and the degree to which the need is fulfilled. This discrepancy is largely due to the prejudices and the lack of knowledge of such psychological supports among the elderly population and their families, as well as the remaining population; this is also the result of the discriminatory attitude of psychotherapists toward the elderly population.