[Psychotherapeutic approaches for treatment of the elderly].

Background: This article focusses on the possibilities, varieties, indications, and benefits of psychotherapy with elderly patients.

Objective: Which basic principles can be differentiated, what theoretical rationales are helpful for psychotherapy with the elderly and what kind and forms of psychotherapy are available?

Material And Methods: Based on relevant references and research, clinically relevant and evidence-based psychotherapies are described, to understand the theoretical rationale, the goals, the procedure and main strategies.

Results: Cognitive behavior therapy, problem solving therapy, life review therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and psychodynamic psychotherapy are available to treat various psychological and somatic problems in elderly patients. In particular, cognitive behavior therapy, problem solving therapy, and life review therapy are evidence-based and empirically validated. Evidence for interpersonal psychotherapy is mixed and for psychodynamic psychotherapy is missing.

Conclusion: Psychotherapy with old and very old patients is possible, well received, and successful. Age per se is no longer considered to be a relevant variable for indications of psychotherapy.