Abstract
As early as 1917 Freud1 pointed out the contrast between normal reaction and adaptation to loss and the pathological responses of depressed patients. Focusing on mechanisms that can ward off sorrow in normals is one of the major contributions of Arieti’s work.2 In line with this quest for normal self-healing processes, we suggest harnessing reminiscing—the mental activity of dwelling on the past—in the psychotherapy of depression, specifically in aging patients.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Freud S. Mourning and Melancholia. Standard Edition. London: Hogarth Press, 1957[orig. 1917]; 14: 243–258.
Arieti S. Individual psychotherapy. In Paykel ES (ed): Handbook of Affective Disorders. New York: Guilford Press, 1982; 297–306.
Butler RN. The life review: an interpretation of reminiscence in the aged. Psychiatry 1963; 26: 65–76.
Pollock G. Reminiscences and insight. Psychoanal Study Child 1981; 36: 279–287.
Lieberman M. Adaptive processes in late life. In Datan N, Ginsberg L (eds): Life-Span Developmental Psychology—Normative Life Crisis. New York: Academic Press, 1975; 135–159.
Fallot R. The impact on mood of verbal reminiscing in later adulthood. Int J Aging Hum Dev 1979–1980; 10: 385–400.
Bachar E, Dasberg H, Shapira B, et al. Reminiscing in depressed, aging patients: effect of ECT and antidepressants. Submitted for publication.
Lewis C. Reminiscing and self-concept in old age. J Gerontol 1971; 26: 240–243.
Lewis C. The adaptive value of reminiscing in old age. J Geriatr Psychiatry 1973; 6: 117–121.
Revere V, Tobin S. Myth and reality: the older person’s relationship to his past. Int J Aging Hum Dev 1980 ’ 1981;12: 15 ’ 26.
Beaton SR. Reminiscence in old age. Nurs Forum 1980; 19: 271–283.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1989 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bachar, E., Dasberg, H., Shapira, B. (1989). Use of Reminiscing in the Psychotherapy of Depression. In: Lerer, B., Gershon, S. (eds) New Directions in Affective Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3524-8_149
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3524-8_149
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-96769-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-3524-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive