Zeitschrift für Gerontologie
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Data of the German Microcensus of 1989 and DTI (diagnosis and therapy index) of Infratest Health Research for 1989 are used to provide a detailed description of the situation of patients of 65 years and older in German acute-care hospitals. Among others the average length of stay, diagnosis, intensity of care, or success of therapy are calculated for ages 65-74, 75-84, and 85+ for both sexes.
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The suicidal behavior in 155 patients older than 60 years is analyzed. Patients were treated for endogenous, neurotic, or reactive depression. Differences between diagnostic categories and sex are discussed in detail. ⋯ Psychopathological symptoms correlating with suicidal behavior in endogenous depression in the elderly are depicted. The social environment of and the therapeutic approach to suicidal elderly patients are discussed. The problem of rational suicide and the demand for voluntary death are mentioned.
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Manners of coping with dying were studied in sixty patients with terminal diseases using explorative interviews. The reaction to impending death is commonly described in the literature as being reduced to only a few global dimensions. ⋯ The manner of dealing with death and dying was also influenced by its proximity. Patients expecting to die soon or those with longer survival times (greater than 1 year) at the time of evaluation, hardly acknowledged or did not initiate discussion of their situation.