ATTITUDES AND CLINICAL PRACTICES OF PSYCHOLOGISTS WHEN TREATING THE MENTAL HEALTH OF ELDERLY PEOPLE

Abstract

Aim: Ageism intrudes into clinical assessment, leading to over/underdiagnosis of mental and neurocognitive disorders. The aim of this research was to investigate the existence of similarities or differences n the way that Greek psychologists assess an older adult’s psychological problem in comparison with a younger adult’s similar problem. Method: Questionnaires were sent by email and responses were received from a sample of 159 Greek psychologists. The instruments used were two detailed clinical vignettes of cases of women with depressive symptomatology differentiated only by age (42 years vs. 72 years old), a questionnaire rating evaluative judgments regarding the symptomatology and treatment of the hypothetical patient, and a demographic characteristics questionnaire. Each of the two versions of the vignette was distributed to the participants according the double-blinded method. Results: Some of the results revealed prejudices of professionals in relation to the patient's age. The areas of variation were the prognosis, the etiology of its symptomatology and the choice of appropriate treatment for it. Regarding the other areas of clinical assessment that were investigated (diagnosis, prognosis, therapeutic relationship, willingness to treat), no age biases were identified. Conclusion: Results indicate that age group was correlated with three important aspects of assessment.