Psychopathology in late adulthood is reviewed from the viewpoint of developmental stage concept. The abnormal behavior could be caused by the developmental stage itself, not by the general other reasons.
Some of the developmental changes and characteristics in late adulthood are as follows: deterioration of sensory/perceptual and intellectual abilities, changes of personality characteristics, the negative effects of compulsory retirement and loss of social roles, and death of one´s spouse.
In addition to those developmental events, learned helplessness and the ineffective functioning of personality system in the aged are discussed. With those of specific changes and events in old age, the psychopathology-especially, depression-is analyzed in detail.
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