Loneliness in old age.

The author describes, in connection with 100 cases, a pathological syndrome of isolation, the absolute loneliness. This pathological condition is deemed to be dangerous for old people. Most typical is the superposition or total lack of emotional responses. Loneliness is a disease leading ultimately to death. 48 old subjects aged 65 to 82 were examined for immuno-globulin status (IgG, IgA, IgM), they were divided into groups of lonely and partly lonely subjects. In the case of lonely old subjects a more vigorous decline of immuno-globulin level was found than with non-lonely ol people - a fact pointing to negative psychic nervous influences have an adverse influence on immuno-globulin production. Over a period of 5 years, the group of lonely old subjects exhibited a higher mortality rate than the group of non-lonely people. The author puts forward a proposal of therapy to mitigate the absolute loneliness: social and individual care and therapy by physicians of gerontological outlook (psycho-pharmacons, procain, products, multivitamins etc.).