Individual psychotherapy with the depressed elderly outpatient: an overview.

A review is presented of the status of geriatric psychotherapy with the depressed elderly community resident, over the past 20 years. Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness accompanying or following a significant loss are often chief features of the depressive syndrome in elderly persons who seek help. The experiences of those involved in treating this disorder in the elderly can be most rewarding to both therapist and patient.