Everyone feels the blues or sad at times. It is a natural part of life. But when the sadness persists and interferes with everyday life, it may be depression. Depression is not a normal part of growing older. It is a serious mental illness but like heart disease or diabetes it can be treated.
Depression is a serious illness affecting approximately 15 out of every 100 adults over age 65 in the United States. When depression occurs in late life, it sometimes can be a relapse of an earlier depression. But when it occurs for the first time in older adults, it can be brought on by another illness. When someone is already ill, depression can be both more difficult to distinguish and more difficult to bear.
Depression is a serious illness affecting approximately 15 out of every 100 adults over age 65 in the United States. When depression occurs in late life, it sometimes can be a relapse of an earlier depression. But when it occurs for the first time in older adults, it can be brought on by another illness. When someone is already ill, depression can be both more difficult to distinguish and more difficult to bear.
Sadness associated with normal grief is different from depression. A sad or grieving person can continue to carry on with daily activities. The depressed person has symptoms that interfere with their ability to function normally for a prolonged period of time.
Depression in the elderly is not always easy to identify. It sometimes is difficult for a depressed older person to describe how they are feeling. Older Americans come from a time when depression was not understood to be a biological disorder and medical illness. Some elderly fear being labeled or worry that their illness will be seen as a character weakness, or a sign on senility.
Someone suffering from depression can not just "get over it." Depression is a medical illness that must be diagnosed and treated a psychiatrist. Untreated, depression may last months or even years.
Depression in the elderly is not always easy to identify. It sometimes is difficult for a depressed older person to describe how they are feeling. Older Americans come from a time when depression was not understood to be a biological disorder and medical illness. Some elderly fear being labeled or worry that their illness will be seen as a character weakness, or a sign on senility.
Someone suffering from depression can not just "get over it." Depression is a medical illness that must be diagnosed and treated a psychiatrist. Untreated, depression may last months or even years.
Left to itself depression can; lead to disability; worsen symptoms of other illnesses; lead to premature death; result in suicide. When it is properly diagnosed and treated, more than 80 percent of those enduring depression return to their normal life with a complete recovery.
The most common symptoms of late-life depression include: persistent sadness; feeling slowed down; excessive worries about finances and health problems; frequent crying; feeling worthless or helpless; weight changes; pacing and restlessness; difficulty sleeping; difficulty concentrating; physical symptoms such as pain or gastrointestinal problems. One frequent sign of depression is when people withdraw from their regular social activities.
Another important sign is that they often neglect their personal appearance, or may begin cooking and eating less. Like many illnesses, there are varying levels and types of depression. A person may not feel hopeless or helpless, but may exhibit symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, weight loss, or physical pain with no apparent explanation. This person still may be depressed. But, those same symptoms also may be a sign of another problem; only a doctor can make the correct diagnosis.
Another important sign is that they often neglect their personal appearance, or may begin cooking and eating less. Like many illnesses, there are varying levels and types of depression. A person may not feel hopeless or helpless, but may exhibit symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, weight loss, or physical pain with no apparent explanation. This person still may be depressed. But, those same symptoms also may be a sign of another problem; only a doctor can make the correct diagnosis.
Sometimes depression will occur for no apparent reason. This can be because the disease often is caused by biological changes in the brain. In older adults, there usually are reasons for the depression. As the brain and body age, natural biochemical changes take place. Changes as the result of aging, medical illnesses or genetics may put the older person at a greater risk for developing depression.
Chronic illness is the most common cause of depression in the elderly. But even when someone has a chronic illness such as arthritis, it is not natural to be depressed.
The development of depression often has a trigger. People can pinpoint one specific event that triggered their depression, such as the death of a partner or loved one, or the loss of a job through layoff or retirement. When a normal period of sadness or grief leads to a prolonged, intense grief then it requires medical attention.
For the older person, medical illnesses are a common trigger for depression, and often depression will worsen the symptoms of other illnesses.
Medical illnesses may hide the symptoms of depression. When a depressed person is preoccupied with physical symptoms resulting from a stroke, gastrointestinal problems, heart disease or arthritis, they may confuse the depressive symptoms with symptoms of an existing physical illness, or may ignore the symptoms.
Most depressed elderly people respond to treatment with little trouble. In fact, there are highly effective treatments for depression in late life. Common treatments include: psychotherapy; antidepressant medications; electroconvulsive therapy.
Psychotherapy can play an important role in the treatment of depression with, or without, medication. This type of treatment is most often used alone in mild to moderate depression. There are many forms of short-term therapy that have proven to be effective.
Antidepressants work by increasing the level of neurotransmitters in the brain. Many feelings, including pain and pleasure, are a result of the neurotransmitters' function. When the supply of neurotransmitters is imbalanced, depression may result.
A frequent reason some people do not respond to antidepressant treatment is because they do not take the medication properly. Missing doses or taking more than prescribed and so they relapse. Stopping the medication too soon often results in a relapse of depression.
Typically, it takes four to 12 weeks to begin seeing results from antidepressant medication. If after this period of time the depression does not subside, the patient should consult their doctor for a change in medications or dosage. Antidepressant drugs are not habit-forming or addictive.
Electroconvulsive therapy is a treatment that many people have a dread of. ECT is a safe, fast-acting and effective treatments for severe depression. It can be life saving. For the person who has a life-threatening depression that is not responding to antidepressant medication or for the person who cannot tolerate the medication; ECT is the most effective treatment.
The treatment of depression demands patience and determination by the patient and the physician. Sometimes several different treatments must be tried before full recovery.
Suicide is more common in older people than in any other age group. Persons over age 65 account for more than 25 percent of the nation's suicides. Suicide attempts or severe thoughts or wishes by older adults must always be taken seriously.
It is important to remember that depression is a highly treatable condition and is not a normal part of growing older. Therefore, it is critical to understand and recognize the symptoms of the illness. An older person who is diagnosed with depression also should know that there are professionals who specialize in treating the elderly; geriatric psychiatrists have the training to know what treatments will be better suited for an older patient.
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