PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR THE ELDERLY - PUBLIC-OPINION

The ratings of 414 respondents aged 17-81 years revealed strong biases against psychotherapy for older adults. Ratings of the value of psych otherapy and the benefit that clients could derive from psychotherapy decreased steadily with increasing target age. The respondents' rating s in the present study are consistent with psychotherapists' lower pre ferences for treating older adults found in a previous study (see Zivi an, Larsen, Knox, Gekoski, & Hatchette, 1992). Together, the results o f the two studies reveal biases that may explain why so few older adul ts seek and receive psychological services.