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Elderly chronic complainers lacking insight and potential for change are traditionally seen in individual sessions which turn out to be unproductive and frustrating. They tend to be depressed by loss of the self-esteem that arises from usefulness and by physical and mental deterioration. Such depression is often manifested as physical complaints. With little observing ego, such patients come to the clinic unaware of the impact of their behavior on others. Comments from the therapist on their behavior are felt as narcissistic assaults. It was hoped that the presence of other patients in a group would make these comments less threatening. Yet a group of patients treated in a conventional manner tended to talk simultaneously, their only object a description of their symptoms. There was rivalry for the attention of the therapist. The patients met for a half hour of refreshments and informal spontaneous discussion before getting together for supervised talk. In the more formal second session patients were better able to wait their turn and to talk about matters with greater relevance and emotional meaning. The therapists in a nurturing role were able to show interest in the patients' immediate concerns. For patients who have been chronically susceptible to narcissistic conflicts, the advent of advanced age heightens the confrontation