Démotivation du sujet âgé, dépression conative et renoncement au plaisir

Abstract

Loss of motivation differs from a mood disorder and belongs to the regression field, conducting to a social dependency as well. The concept of regression started and driven by loss of motivation induces to asset new boundaries in family links or for the therapeutic relationships between patients and carers. Lack of motivation and "social dependency" are a disorder found in old people resulting of an unelaborated situation. The authors present a phenome-nalogical view of the mechanisms linked to the syndrome and propose some ways to prevent them. Loss of motivation is the core of regression, built on learned and acquired old persons' psychological strategies, embedded between a shrinking autonomy and an unaccepted increasing dependency. It is an acquired mechanism consequence of the inability to cope with the confrontation of psychological difficulties of the aging person, the loss of autonomy and a non conscious research of dependency. In this ambiguity loss of motivation and regression are distinct with elderly non cognitive disorders but interact with them. This paper focuses on difference between depression and loss of motivation and explores the issue of differential diagnosis. In elderly, loss of motivation blunts the intensity of moral pain. © L'Esprit du Temps. Tous droits réservés pour tous pays.