Aging, Death, and Bereavement in behavioral sciences Old Age stage of ego integrity versus despair person either has satisfaction and pride of life accomplishments Or feels that His/Her was wasted her. Stages of grief Five stages: Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance

1. Aging, Death, and
Bereavement
Dr Naveed Khalid

2. Old Age
 stage of ego integrity versus
despair
◦person either has satisfaction and
pride of life accomplishments
◦Or feels that His/Her was wasted
her.

3. Benefits of Aging
 freedom from the responsibilities
 pursue interests and education that they
did not have time for when they were
younger.

4. Losses of aging
 Less valuable
 Death of loved ones
 Declines in health and strength
 changes associated with aging can
contribute to the development of
depression

5.  Neurotransmitter availability in the brain
decreases with age.
 This decrease occurs via several
mechanisms.
 First, secretion of the major behavioral
neurotransmitters diminishes.
 Also, concentration of monoamine oxidase
increases, leading to the accelerated
breakdown of some of these
neurotransmitters.
 Finally, neurotransmitter receptors may
be less responsive in the aging brain.

6. Neurochemical Changes

7. Psychosocial changes in aging
 health problems associated with aging not
only are uncomfortable, but they can have
serious emotional and social
consequences.
◦ embarrassing problem of reduced bladder
control seen in some aging patients can impair
one's ability to leave home.

8.  Age-associated losses in muscle strength
and in sensory functions like vision and
hearing can further decrease social
opportunities and increase social isolation
Psychosocial changes in aging

9. Psychopathology in the elderly
 Depression
 Suicidal Thoughts
 Anxiety
 Fearfulness

10. Death

11. Stages of Dying/Grief :
Five stages:
Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance

13. Denial
 Denial helps minimize the overwhelming
pain of loss.
 Move to preferable reality
 Shock
 Confusion
 mindless behaviors


14. Anger
 Irritability
 being aggressive
 arguments or physical fights
 rage

15. Bargaining:
 Guilt
 Blame
 Requesting
 false hope
 fear, anxiety

16. Depression
 sleep and appetite changes
 reduced energy
 Sadness
 Reduced social interest/interaction
 Crying
 Increased drug/alcohol abuse

17. Acceptance
 Emotions may begin to stabilize.
 re-enter reality
 move, grow, and evolve into your new
reality.

18. Bereavement

19.  To feel great sadness after the loss of a
loved one or in anticipation of one's own
death.
 This normal reaction is called
bereavement.

20. Normal vs Complicated bereavement
 Normal grief and complicated grief are
characterized initially by shock
 Denial tends to last up to a few hours in
normal grief, the denial of abnormal grief
may persist over days or weeks.
 Both normal grief and abnormal grief
include sadness, crying, and other
expressions of sorrow, particularly in the
early stages .

21.  In normal grief, these expressions
gradually subside over a 1- to 2-year
period.
 However, they commonly and normally
recur on holidays or special occasions, a
phenomenon called the anniversary
reaction.

22.  In complicated grief, the characteristics of
bereavement persist and may even
intensify over time.

26. Electroconvulsive therapy