L’anziano e la psicogerontologia : percorsi storici nel e dal Giornale di Gerontologia = The elderly person and psychogerontology : historical route through Giornale di Gerontologia

The authors analyze the papers concerning psychogerontology published in Giornale di Gerontologia (expression of Italian Gerontological and Geriatrical Society) during 36 years (1953-1989), and some volumes published in the period 1988-2000, attesting the evolution of italian psychogerontology. The role of Giornale di Gerontologia as historical primary source is clearly evident for the period considered (1953-1989) and only starting from this period italian psychogerontological monographs appear. During the second half of twentieth century, two main psychogerontological schools emerged: the Florentine one, related to Enrico Greppi (1896-1969), the founder of modern Italian Geriatrics and the Milanese one, more related to Psychology, with its promoter Agostino Gemelli (1878-1959), the founder of Catholic University, and his Assistant (then full Professor in Medical School of Milan University) Marcello Cesa-Bianchi. The long and difficult path for psychogerontology to be accepted into italian geriatric world is evident, but it is a path successfully concluded, as testified not only by psychogerontologic scientific societies, but also by the activity of Italian Gerontological and Geriatrical Society. We must be grateful to our Teachers who foresighted the need to integrate biological sciences and humanities, in the service of our elderly.