Social breakdown in the elderly, II. Sociodemographic data and psychopathology.

Current understanding of the sociodemographic and psychopathological characteristics of the syndrome of social breakdown of the elderly (SBE) is reviewed. In DSM-III-R terms, pure SBE may be best classified as an adjustment disorder with profound social withdrawal. It is argued that pure SBE is a form of "personality development" in accord with Jaspers's concept of meaningful connections.