This paper examines the scientific literature concerning psychotherapy with older adults and classifies the studies on 06 dimensions: countries, periodics, themes, theoretical orientation, nature of the investigation and goals of researches. The sample was composed of 108 serials, selected from the PSYCLIT database (PSYCHOLOGICAL ABSTRACTS, from 1990 to 1996) using the following key words: psychotherapy, brief psychoterapy, and: elderly, aging, geriatric, gerontology. Results are discussed according to the analytical dimensions proposed, the researche main trends are identified and suggestions are presented to improve new studies in the area.
Psychotherapy for older adults; geriatric psychotherapy; geriatrics; gerontology; aged; elderly