Depression whether it occurs in the young adult or in the elderly is
not normal. Generally, the tendency is to be dismissive of the condition, when
it occurs in somebody 65 years old and beyond, attributing it to the normal
aging process. On the contrary, it should be taken seriously and treated.
Depression in Senior Citizens is a mental and emotional disorder,
and can have a negative and debilitating effect on the individual’s quality of
life. However, the occasional “blue mood” or feelings of sadness are very
normal.
A significant
percentage of the elderly suffer from subsyndromal depressions and if left
untreated, it could evolve into a major depression disorder.
Some of the
common symptoms associated with subsnydromal depression are:
- Insomnia
- Constantly
feeling tired
- Frequent
thoughts of death
- Trouble
concentrating
- Significant
weight gain
- Decelerated
thinking
- Hypersomnia
Causes
The causes of
depression in the elderly cannot be isolated to any single factor but generally
it is an amalgamation of biological, social and psychological factors. Reports
from researchers suggest that the following could be the contributors to
geriatric depression:
- A family history
of depression
- Traumatic life
events such as loss of a loved one or abuse
- Low levels of
crucial neurotransmitter chemicals in the brain
- Limited mobility
due to biological complications
- Isolation
- Fear of death
- Prolonged
substance abuse
- Change of
location or financial status due to retirement, difficulty in making the
transition
- Deaths of peers,
friends, loved ones, widowhood or divorce
- Chronic medical
conditions
Signs and
Symptoms of Geriatric Depression
Regardless of
the age group, the signs and symptoms of depression are the same and these
include:
- Apathy
- Crying spells
- Changes in appetite
- Fatigue
- Feelings of
worthlessness
- Irritability
- Lack of
concentration
- Physical aches
and pains – more often than not, these physical aches and pains are not related
to any other medical condition and are because of depression
- Restlessness
- Sadness
- Sleeping
problems
- Thoughts of
suicide
- Withdrawal
Diagnosis
Detecting
geriatric depression in an elderly person is quite difficult, so also
diagnosing and treating it. A psychiatrist, who is a trained professional in
both mental and emotional illnesses, can help diagnose symptoms of geriatric
depression by checking the mood, behavior, everyday activities and family
health history of the patient. There are also many tools available to help
diagnose the type of depression (minor, major and Dysthymic disorders), a
patient may have. The Geriatric Depression Scale or GDS is the most widely used
scale to measure the level of depression in the elderly. A person is determined
to have depression if the symptoms displayed are present, for no lesser than 2
weeks.
Treatment of
Geriatric Depression
In the aforesaid
paragraphs it has been discussed that geriatric depression cannot be attributed
to any one cause. Likewise, there are multiple treatment options, each tailored
to the needs of each patient. Discovering the right treatment may take time.
Typically, any treatment devised will involve a mix of medication, therapy and
lifestyle changes.
Several
therapies are available, such as talk therapy, art therapy, cognitive behavior
therapy and more. Lifestyle changes like increasing physical activities, having
regular visits with family and friends, eating a well-balanced diet, finding a
hobby or activity of interest, getting sufficient sleep, are used to treat
depression in the elderly. There are a variety of medications that are used in
the treatment of geriatric depression.
Living with and
Managing Geriatric Depression
Aging certainly
compounds the difficulties correlated to geriatric depression and can be
difficult to diagnose. However, once diagnosed, with proper care and treatment,
living and managing geriatric depression in an elderly loved one, is possible. The
right treatment and care will vastly improve the quality of life of the elderly
person, especially when family and friends participate, offering their support
and help.
