ABSTRACT
Pearl King, at the 31st International Congress, pointed out that it was the first time that a paper on the problems concerned with the psychoanalysis of elderly patients had been arranged. She indicated that researches in the theory and practice of psychoanalysis over the past few decades have necessitated a re-evaluation of psychoanalysts' attitudes, and the criteria they use for the selection of such patients. Among such researches, the author particularly refers to the changes in psychoanalytic understanding and technique that have facilitated clinical exploration of severe narcissistic disorders. Psychoanalysts find themselves confronted with severe narcissistic patients frequently when patients are middle-aged and later, because the very nature of their disorder has not allowed them to seek help earlier. The author illustrates the general points of loneliness of mind by reference to case material of an ageing patient, who presented with a traumatized history and severe narcissistic problems.
