Elderly distress: cognitive schemas identification

International classifications of psychiatric disorders appear to be insufficient to account for the psychological distress associated with aging. Identification of cognitive schemas can be very useful for the diagnostic and therapeutic levels in aged subjects. The aim of this study was to explore the facets of cognitive distress in these subjects, that is how can be integrated specific diagrams related to psychological changes related to aging with more general schemas identified with young adults, and whose interest was confirmed in old subjects. An inventory of sixty thoughts representative of maladaptive schemas was proposed to 160 subjects aged from 65 to 102 years and to a control group of 38 subjects aged from 50 to 64 years. The factorial analysis results showed that 9 distinct schemas accounted for 60% of the explained variance: six general (fear of losing control, dependence, vulnerability, abandonment, incompetence, self-sacrifice) and three specific to aging (disengagement, refusal of assistance, loss of individuality). A minority of schemas presented marked links with depression or anxiety without never merging with their assessment. In the same way, autonomy and institutionalization were significantly linked to some schemas, in particular those specific to aging. The interest to develop an standardized inventory from this set of schemas is discussed.