R. Guimarães Lopes*

Summary: ls known, that the recognition of the usual conditions of life of elderly is important to permit the ealry diagnosis and efficacy of treatment.
Several studies integrated in Consultation/Liaison Psychiatry were made in Oporto (North Portugal) with old-people in the different settings where e found them:
- in the Community; - in the Primary Care; - in the General Hospital; - in the Psychiatric Hospital; - in the Ambulatory Gerontopsychiatric Service The ideal model of recognition of abnormalities must be structured in different anthropological perspectives and easy to work within the medical praxis. These perspectives may be:
- biological; - psychological; - biographical; - situative (circunstancial and social); - noological (prospective of expectations and values).
The results of these model gauged in the practice are presented and discussed.

Key-words: Elderly; Complaints; Life-problems; Health problems; Somatic conditions; Psychological conditions; Comorbility; Expectations; Dreams

*Psychiatrist, Prof. do ICBAS - University of Oporto

An Aging C/L experience in Centro Hospitalar de Coimbra

Célia Franco*

Summary: Since April 1993 there is the "Consulta de Envelhecimento Cerebral", a Liaison Consultation in General Hospital of Centro Hospitalar de Coimbra, Portugal. There are working in this consultation three neurologists, two psychiatrists and two medical doctors. With this consultation we pretend to study Alzheimer Disease and other cases of dementia and to treat them.
At the end of four years of liaison work, the author decided to evaluate the experience and to think about it.

Key-words: Consultation /Liaison Psychiatry; Aging; Dementia; Alzheimer Disease

*Assistente Hospitalar do Hospital Sobral Cid, Coimbra

Anxiety and Family Disfunction in Elderly

Anabela de Sousa dos Santos*

Summary:  With this work we pretend to connect elderly anxiety with family dysfunction, and to evaluate the psychometric qualities in the portuguesa population, by means of a questionnaire for the study of the psychological, social and health profile of the portuguesa elderly.

Key-words: Anxiety; Family Dysfunction; Elderly

*Membro do Centro de Estudos Psicobiográficos
Departamento de Psicologia
Universidade Lusófona

C/L Approach on Elderly's Sexuality

Ana Maria Moreira*
Alexandra Côrte-Real*

Summary: The authors examine the various psychological, organic and relational aspects of the elderly's sexual life. The use of this knowledge in the practice of Consultation/Liaison Psychiatry, which includes the general practioner, the patient and other specialists in wards and out-patient clinics, has made easier a better understanding of an approach to the elderly's sexuality.

Key-words: Sexuality; Elderly; Consultation/Liaison Psychiatry

*Psiquiatra do Hospital do Conde de Ferreira

Aging - Psychological Perspective

M. Fernanda Santos*

Summary: A revision of the psychological processes in old age is made. Also are commented particularities of the Consultation/Liaison Psychology. "Finding mean to life and death" is given as orientation to psychotherapy following the experience of Viktor Frankl.

Key-words: Elderiy; Psychology; Vision; Audition; Motility; Memory; Sage; Consultation/Liaison Psychology; Psychotherapy

*Psicóloga Clínica. Psicoterapeuta.

Quality of Life and Senescence

M. Fátima R. A. Campos*

Summary: The author discusses an exploratory study about quality of life in the elderly and their health conditions such as: dementia and depression. lt seeks to understand the importance of family support, to be assessed in order to a multidisciplinary therapeutical community intervention.

Key-words: Quality of Life; Elderly; Dementia; Depression; Family

*Membro do Centro de Estudos Psicobiográficos
Departamento de Psicologia
Universidade Lusófona

The Consequences of lnactivity and Hyperactivity in a Sample of Elderly ,Attending Primary Care Settings

R. Guimarães Lopes*

Summary: In Portugal, like in other countries, the demographical growth of the older population takes many problems for which the society is not prepared.
To solve them, we need a better understanding of the elderly - which features are due to the living circunstances, which is the essencial way of being an older adult.
The science of circunstances is epidemiology. lf we could know all the circunstances and if we could eliminate the prejudices then we would be nearer the essence of elderly-being and perhaps nearer of the happiness of life-accomplishment.

Key-words: Elderly, lnactivity; Hyperactivity- Primary Care

*Psychiatrist, Prof. do ICBAS - University of Oporto

Psychobiology of the Aging

Silva Martins*

Summary: In the bio-psico-social perspective of elderly, the author matter a critical review of the different accost models of illness in elderly people. After a brief reference to cientifical-instruction thinking, especialy some aspects of the modern neurotransmission, The author situates his accord in the field of elderly-ilness, elderly-family, elderly-environment, elderly-institution.
Ends with the idea that, in the presence of elderly people, only the pluridisciplinar and interinstitucionaly learn can be sucessful.

Key-words: Elderly; Illness; Familly; Institution

*Médico Psiquiatra
Director do Departamento de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental do Hospital de S. Marcos, Braga