Wasylenki D A
Can J Psychiatry. 1982 Feb;27(1):11-7. doi: 10.1177/070674378202700104.
Freud felt that by age 50 the mental processes had lost so much elasticity as to make psychological treatment inadvisable. Subsequent workers have been less pessimistic about the potential for conflict resolution in old age. This paper presents three case vignettes to explore psychodynamic aspects of the aging process. Issues discussed include inevitable losses, grief reactions, difficulties with restitution, structural alterations, redistribution of libido and the use of regression rather than repression as a mechanism of defense. Patients such as these are often diagnosed as depressed or demented and treated with psychotropic drugs. Interpersonal psychotherapeutic approaches can be much more effective.
弗洛伊德认为，到50岁时，心理过程已丧失太多弹性，以至于心理治疗变得不可取。后来的研究者对老年期解决冲突的潜力则没那么悲观。本文呈现了三个案例 vignettes 来探讨衰老过程的心理动力学方面。讨论的问题包括不可避免的丧失、悲伤反应、恢复的困难、结构改变、力比多的重新分配以及使用退行而非压抑作为防御机制。这类患者常被诊断为抑郁或痴呆，并使用精神药物治疗。人际心理治疗方法可能会更有效。
