PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R J Kahana

Publications and source records attributed to R J Kahana.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1981

The aging survivor of the holocaust. Discussion: reconciliation between the generations: a last chance.

Reconciliation of conflicts between aged parents and their adult offspring is a criterion of successful aging. It requires inner psychological changes in those involved. Dr. Herzog's case history illustrates such inner change in the son of an aged father who was a survivor of the Holocaust. The patient had suffered a form of transmitted traumatization affecting his psychological development. Studies of posttraumatic reactions of survivors and of traumatization in the second generation have been reviewed briefly. Persistent aftereffects of trauma may aggravate problems of aging. As the example given in this paper illustrates, knowledge of the impact of the Holocaust experience can help us to recognize transmitted traumatization in individuals whose experiences were not related to the Holocaust.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Strategies of dynamic psychotherapy with the wide range of older individuals.

Until recently contributions to geriatric psychotherapy tended to be limited to the consideration of the special problems of the most debilitated of the elderly, neglecting the vigorous majority of aging persons. The reluctance of psychoanalysts to treat individuals past 45 or 50 years of age by classical technique may have impeded the application of psychodynamic principles to the psychotherapy of older people. Gradually, a number of analysts and dynamic therapists reported favorable responses of the middle aged and elderly to such treatment and established some of its technical parameters. In this paper, distinguishing characteristics of the aging and of the debilitated aged are examined in order to clarify the techniques of geriatric psychotherapy. Six case vignettes illustrate the treatment aims of structural change, reinstatement of optimum functioning, and basic support in these two categories and in an intermediate group of those experiencing an emotional crisis. The application of psycho-therapeutic principles (promotion of insight, adaptive intervention, general supportive methods) is described. Psychological management is compared with psychotherapy in the debilitated aged. Treatment of emotional crises in older persons is illustrated. A sample of patients treated by means of psychotherapy--aging, in crisis, or debilitated--is examined with regard to diagnoses, precipitating stresses, the aims of therapy, and the involvement of their families in the treatment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗