Medical Psychology · MU Plovdiv

11. Late adulthood. Grief. Bereavement. Death.

Inside: 7 sections · 1 table · 15 flashcards · 4 min

Topic 11 of 13 in the MU Plovdiv syllabus for Medical Psychology (Medicine, Year 2). The free AceMed note covers it in 7 sections, about 569 words (4 min of reading), with 15 flashcards.

In this note

  1. Introduction
  2. Late adulthood
  3. Normal grief
  4. Models of grief
  5. Complicated grief
  6. Psychology of dying and death
  7. Clinical role of the doctor

Introduction

This topic covers the psychology of late adulthood, the reactions to loss and bereavement, and the psychological aspects of dying and death. For the doctor these matter in daily practice: older patients face many losses, and the way a death is anticipated and mourned affects the patient, the family and the carers. The topic is organised around normal grief, the models that describe it, complicated grief, and the psychology of the dying person.

Late adulthood

Late adulthood, usually taken as the years after about 65, brings physical decline, chronic illness, retirement, loss of roles, and the death of partners and friends. Erikson described its central task as integrity versus despair: a sense that one's life has meaning, or regret and hopelessness.

  • Losses accumulate and can be sudden or gradual; each needs adaptation.
  • Depression is common but is not a normal part of ageing and must be treated; it is often under-recognised and mistaken for physical decline.
  • Cognitive change, social isolation and bereavement all increase the risk of depression and suicide in older people.

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