Depression in the Elderly
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Depression in the Elderly
Depression is just like any disease and it can happen to anyone at any age. This is why it requires aggressive treatment since it may cause prolonged suffering if it goes undiagnosed and untreated. For instance, depression may hasten the death of a patient. Clinical depression is very common in the elderly and it often manifests itself differently. All in all, it should not be viewed as part of aging, because it is less common than in younger adults. According to statistics, people age 40 to 59 (12.3 percent) have the highest rate of depression (Domènech-Abella et al., 2017).
In many scenarios, people tend to confuse depression among the elderly with aging and therefore ignore it. But the fact is, one would know if his elderly relative is suffering from clinical depression by observing different signs and symptoms he portrays (Girgus et al., 2017). For instance, a depressed person is likely to be confused or have attention problems. It gets hard to concentrate on something since his mind always on something else. Also, a depressed person will always be overwhelmed by feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or even self-hate which results in excessive guilt. Mostly the patient is always blaming himself for past failures and mistakes.
Loss of interest is also a sign of a depressed person. The patient no longer finds happiness or pleasure in things he used to enjoy before. These withdrawals will eventually lead to poor performance in hobbies or even in the workplace. The patient will tend to show signs of increased fatigue and sleeping problems (Zhang, Chen, & Ma, 2018). This may be excessive sleeping or even insomnia. Lack of quality sleep will lead to anxiety which is also a sign of a depressed person. Besides, depression may lead to a change in appetite. The patient may increase their appetite hence gain weight or even reduce their appetite thus reducing weight.
From the above signs and symptoms, it is clear that depression needs instant attention from an expert lest there will be consequences. These include unexplained or aggravated aches and pains. Many elderly people will experience very bad headaches, back pains, constant fatigue, or even muscle aches. A depressed person will often have recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. The patient is filled with self-hate which makes him not want to live anymore. Statistics portrays so many cases worldwide of suicidal deaths caused by depression (Kim et al., 2017).
Misuse of drugs and other substances is also a consequence of depression. A patient may tend to drink alcohol to cope with difficult emotions and change his moods. Also, depression is likely to ruin the patient’s relationship at work, among his peers or even his family since he is withdrawn and lacks interest in everything around him. Clinical depression will negatively affect patients thinking, self-esteem, and thoughts.
A person suffering from depression may indicate certain behaviors that show the need for therapy. These behaviors may include memory disorders e.g. short-term memory loss, forgetfulness, confusion, or even loss of concentration which leads to poor decision making. The patient may also portray signs of lethargy which leads to inactiveness and lack of enthusiasm (Liu et al., 2016). Other people may keep on crying which is a sign of anxiety and stress therefore sadness or feelings of despair are constant. Besides, there is a need for therapy in the case where the language and motor skills become slow.
Overcoming depression involves finding new things to do, staying active both physically and mentally, and even getting clinical treatment. When it comes to treatment, the doctor’s intervention may include medications, therapy, socialization, or change in the social environment. Therapy is highly recommendable and there are different types of therapy for different problems. Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT) are structured sessions where the patient and therapist are involved in a conversation (Zhang, Chen, & Ma, 2018). The therapist is supposed to note the different reactions and emotions portrayed by the patient and offer assistance. This therapy is the best for treating problems such as depression and anxiety.
Psychodynamic therapies include a therapist engaging the patient in a conversation which helps him understand feelings, emotions, and thoughts. This is because, once with the extra understanding, the patient can deal with difficult situations in a civilized way. Psychodynamic therapies are suitable for people with post-traumatic stress, long-term physical health problems, and even addictions (Pilania et al., 2019).
Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is another type of therapy that is aimed at people who have poor relations with their family members, friends, or even partners. A patient may be offered this type of therapy if the other types have not been successful. Also, counseling is another type of therapy that involves sessions between a patient and a counselor (Zis et al., 2017). This type of therapy is very effective with patients suffering from chronic pain, those with addiction problems, or even people with fertility problems. Counseling can also be effective for a person who has tried other forms of counseling.
In conclusion, depression among the elderly is deadly and it needs proper and fast attention. It is of great importance to tame the signs and symptoms early enough, to avoid consequences. Also, it is necessary to give a patient the correct medical care to fight depression.
References
Domènech-Abella, J., Lara, E., Rubio-Valera, M., Olaya, B., Moneta, M. V., Rico-Uribe, L. A., … & Haro, J. M. (2017). Loneliness and depression in the elderly: the role of social network. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 52(4), 381-390.
Girgus, J. S., Yang, K., & Ferri, C. V. (2017). The gender difference in depression: are elderly women at greater risk for depression than elderly men?. Geriatrics, 2(4), 35.
Kim, J. Y., Liu, N., Tan, H. X., & Chu, C. H. (2017). Unobtrusive monitoring to detect depression for elderly with chronic illnesses. IEEE Sensors Journal, 17(17), 5694-5704.
Liu, L., Gou, Z., & Zuo, J. (2016). Social support mediates loneliness and depression in elderly people. Journal of health psychology, 21(5), 750-758.
Pilania, M., Yadav, V., Bairwa, M., Behera, P., Gupta, S. D., Khurana, H., … & Poongothai, S. (2019). Prevalence of depression among the elderly (60 years and above) population in India, 1997–2016: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC public health, 19(1), 832.
Zhang, Y., Chen, Y., & Ma, L. (2018). Depression and cardiovascular disease in elderly: Current understanding. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 47, 1-5.
Zis, P., Daskalaki, A., Bountouni, I., Sykioti, P., Varrassi, G., & Paladini, A. (2017). Depression and chronic pain in the elderly: links and management challenges. Clinical interventions in aging, 12, 709.