Intervenções psicoterapêuticas com idosos na abordagem Analítico-Comportamental

Abstract

With the increase in the elderly population, challenges arise to ensure better health conditions for individuals of this age group. Conceptual development, investigation and refinement of models of psychological interventions directed at the elderly, such as behavioral analytical psychotherapy, are necessary. This Dissertation is divided into two studies. Study 1 aimed to conduct an integrative review of the literature on behavioral interventions with the elderly from a behavioral perspective. The LILACS, MEDLINE and REDALYC databases were consulted, in addition to national and international journals in the area of Behavior Analysis, within a 10- year time frame. The study corpus comprised 17 articles, of which only 2 were Brazilian. Randomized clinical trials predominated. The literature pointed out that the most frequent demands for behavioral treatment were sleep disorders, urinary incontinence and chronic diseases such as depression, hypertension and diabetes. The interventions were carried out in University Hospitals and spaces in the community. The interventions were conducted by psychologists and other health professionals. The techniques of instruction, problem solving, relaxation and stimulus control were the most used. Behavioral interventions proved to be effective and recommended for insomnia, urinary incontinence and chronic diseases such as depression, hypertension and diabetes. Study 2 was a multiple case study and aimed to systematize the main characteristics of analytical-behavioral psychotherapeutic care conducted in a School Service with 6 elderly women aged between 62 and 71 years. The main complaints were about family conflicts, financial and psychological abuse, depressive and anxious symptoms, grief and loneliness. Several difficulties related to the social repertoire were identified, in addition to histories of coercive contingencies marked by situations of psychological, physical and sexual abuse. The most used psychotherapeutic procedures were verbal instruction, description of contingencies and modeling. The results showed improvements in the social repertoire of the elderly, especially in interactions with their families. The Behavioral-Analytical Therapy applied to the elderly seems to be promising to welcome this population and improve their social repertoire.