Treatment of the aged mentally ill: further unmasking of the effects of a diagnosis of chronic brain syndrome.

Abstract

Six elderly persons with a diagnosis of "chronic brain syndrome," who resided in a home for the aged, received bi-weekly sensory stimulation and group therapy for three months. This pilot project demonstrated that the symptoms used to classify "chronic brain syndrome" are flexible and can improve with such treatment. Not only does this cast doubt on the accuracy of this diagnosis are used, but it provides further evidence of the utility of such treatment for this type of patient. Since group therapy and sensory stimulation over a relatively short period can result in clinical and testable improvement, the diagnosis of "chronic brain syndrome" in the elderly should not be allowed to preclude the provision of appropriate psychiatric therapy.