Types of Depression
II
Depression in Women
II Depression in Men
II
Childhood Depression
II
Adolescent Depression
II
Depression in the Elderly
II
Clinical Depression
II
Major Depression
II
Dysthymia II
Atypical Depression
II
Bipolar Depression
II
Cyclothymia II
Seasonal Affective Disorder
II
Postpartum Depression (PPD)
II
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
(PMDD)
II
Holiday Depression II
Workplace Depression.
Elderly Depression - Geriatric Depression.
In a society that glorifies youth, it’s not surprising geriatric
depression affects about 6 million Americans age 65 and older.
It’s not always easy to recognize depression among the elderly
because many of the symptoms of geriatric depression are masked by
general health problems common to the elderly population.
The symptoms of geriatric depression may also look like the side
effects of medications used by the elderly, which makes it
confusing. Nevertheless, elderly depression is common with as many
as three out of 100 senior citizens suffering with clinical
depression.
Some of the symptoms of geriatric depression include insomnia and
decreased appetite. If you have a loved one who is elderly, it’s
important to know it is not normal for them to suffer with
depression for long periods of time. Don’t let your elderly loved
one become part of the statistics that say 90 percent of elderly
people do not receive treatment for their geriatric depression.
Your elderly loved one is at risk for geriatric depression if he
or she is taking combinations of medications that cause
depression. An elderly person is also at risk for elderly
depression if they had a recent spouse or friend die, have a
previous history of depression, other illness or a fear of death.
Geriatric depression is common in elderly people who are living
alone, attempted suicide in the past, have a substance abuse
problem or chronic and severe pain.
Advancing age is associated with so many changes that might
trigger geriatric depression. For example, your geriatric loved
one may have retired and experiences depression because he or she
no longer feels like he or she is contributing to society.
Some older folks battle elderly depression after changing
residence.
Other common triggers geriatric depression includes losing
independence, being diagnosed with a disease or being admitted to
nursing home or institution.
Unfortunately, geriatric depression has serious consequences if
left untreated because elderly people are more likely to commit
suicide when experiencing depression. In fact, studies show
elderly white men are at greatest risk. According to the National
Institute of Mental Health, elderly depression is a major public
health crisis with suicide rates in people ages 80 to 84 more than
twice that of the general population.
Not only do elderly people tend to commit suicide more frequently,
they also experience depression for a longer duration of time.
Geriatric depression doubles their risk to develop cardiac
disease, according to medical experts. Elderly depression has been
linked with an increased risk of death following a heart attack.
People suffering with geriatric depression are also less likely to
fully recover from an illness.
Because of a negative stigma attached to mental illness and the
stereotypes about psychiatric treatment believed by many elderly
people, geriatric depression is not something most senior citizens
admit to having.
Geriatric depression is similar but not completely the same as
depression experienced by younger adults. Like younger adults, an
elderly person may be having symptoms of depression because of a
side effect from medicine or chemical imbalance in the brain.
However, more often than not elderly depression is caused by
circumstances in an elderly person's life.
While most medications have side effects, some of the medications
taken by elderly people are associated with geriatric depression.
Some of the medicines that can exacerbate elderly depression
include hormones (estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, prednisone,
anabolic steroids), anticancer agents (cycloserine, tamoxifen,
Nolvadex, Velban, Oncovin), tranquilizers/antianxiety medications
(Valium, Halcion), medications for Parkinson’s disease (levadopa,
bromocriptine), medications for high blood pressure (clonidine,
reserpine), heart medications (digitalis, propanalol), alcohol,
pain medicines (codeine, darvon) and medications for arthritis (indomethacin).
In some cases elderly depression is a red flag that a geriatric
patient has a serious medical problem other than depression. To
make matters worse, geriatric depression may increase an elderly
person’s risk of developing other illnesses such as those that
affect the immune system including certain infections.
Finally, some people are more at risk for elderly depression than
others. Females who are widows and lack a social network are at
highest risk for geriatric depression. According to research,
elderly women who have a vitamin B-12 deficiency are twice as
likely to be severely depressed. If your loved one is suffering
with geriatric depression, encourage them to eat a balanced
nutrient rich diet.
Suggest your elderly loved one talk to their physician if they are
feeling depression for any length of time as geriatric depression
should not be taken lightly.
