Effects of reminiscence therapy on anxiety and depression during acute hospitalization in older patients: Controlled study.

Background/objectives: Hospitalization due to acute illness in older patients is often associated with anxiety or depressive symptoms. In these circumstances, given that pharmacologic treatment should be avoided to reduce interactions with ongoing medication regimes, psychotherapy techniques should be considered. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of group reminiscence therapy (RT) on the reduction of anxiety and depressive symptoms in acutely hospitalized older patients.

[Elderly patients in the Emergency Department. Is it the best scenario to make complex decisions?].

Clinical evaluation of elderly patients must include a comprehensive geriatric assessment. This is vital when deciding if a patient with a demonstrated critical disease should receive an active treatment, defined as the set of measures to treat an acute disease. The clinical outcomes are presented of four elderly patients who were admitted from the Emergency Department and whose severe acute diseases were treated with Comfort Measures Only.