Vnitr Lek 1994, 40(5):325-328

[Geriatric maladaptation syndrome].

L Hegyi, S Cagán: Výskumný ústav gerontológie, Malacky.

Geriatric maladaptation syndrome is a demonstration of adaptation failure, which is typical for higher age. This failure occurred on the basis of chronic stress caused usually by relevant psychosocial stimulus, with clinical manifestation mainly in cardiovascular or immune systems followed with serious threaten of health and life. A lost of independence, loneliness, change of dwelling-place and living standard, low income, stages of confusion, mental disease, passive life attitude belong to psychosocial risks of the origin of geriatric maladaptation syndrome. Higher age and bad health status belong to biological risks of the origin of geriatric maladaptation syndrome. Clinical image of geriatric maladaptation syndrome has three phases (1. development of stress reaction, 2. full clinical image development of adaptation failure, 3. followed phase of adaptation reaction). It is a set of somatic disorders, which threaten a life of old people. These disorders arose in a consequence of inadequate adaptation to stress life event. Geriatric maladaptation syndrome is significantly different from mentioned adaptation disorders because of its clinical course and frequently unfavourable prognosis. In international classification of diseases it should have an independent item G 43.8.