Depression in older adults is a widespread problem, but it is not a normal part of aging. Depression in older adults contents the revised version of this training module includes the following components. The impact of clinical depression in older adults can be significant, and choosing effective psychotherapeutic and pharmacological management options can be challenging. Depression is the most common mental health problem in older adults. Depression is common when youre over age 65, but it can be harder to spot. As we grow older, we often face significant life changes that can increase the risk for depression. Associate professor university of washington medical director geriatric psychiatry services. Despite ects efficacy and safety record in older adults, many misconceptions still persist among both patients and health care professionals. Depression is an illness that causes you to feel sad or hopeless much of the time. Loss of physical and mental agility, perhaps, but always loss of family members, both older ones who passed away and younger ones. Why does depression in the older population often go untreated.
Depression is a true and treatable medical condition, not a normal part of aging. Depression in older adults northwestern university. Older adults may have more medical issues, which can increase their risk of depression. However, important life changes that happen as we get older may cause feelings of uneasiness, stress, and sadness. Older adults are less likely to talk about feeling depressed with their health care providers. Despite being the most common mental disorder in older adults, depression is under recognised. Many older adults with depression need treatment to feel better. For this reason, we surveyed a panel of 50 experts on the treatment of depression in older adults. For carefully selected people, ect can be a lifesaving intervention. Elderly patients might also be reluctant to talk about their feelings or fail to understand that physical symptoms can be a sign of depression. Older adults and depression pdf, 416 kb depression is not a normal part of aging.
In older adults, life changes can increase the risk for depression or make existing depression worse. Stress, depression, and the role of unhealthy behaviors among. However, the prevalence of subsyndromal depression is higher and may reach up to 40 % of communitydwelling elderly subjects 2, 3. Ect may cause side effects, such as confusion and memory loss. In part, its because it often shows up differently when youre older. Older adults may go through major life changes or challenges that trigger depression. Fellow in geriatric psychiatry northwestern university medical school. Depressive disorders are common and disabling in the elderly. To facilitate use, some components are combined in a file, others are located in independent files, and all are provided in at least two formats the electronic processing format in which they were created. Depression can also occur with other serious medical illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and parkinsons disease. In the majority of older adults, longterm antidepressant treatment may be necessary to maintain the antidepressant response, and prevent some of these negative outcomes. We know that about 80% of older adults have at least one chronic health condition, and 50% have two or more. Depression and older adults national institute on aging.
However, stress that is brought on by taxing life events that accumulate over time i. Aug 16, 2016 for brief periods of stress, we may figure out a temporary way to cope which would limit the impact of the stressor on our health. It is a medical condition that interferes with daily life and normal functioning. The essential feature of a major depressive episode is a period of.
In a community sample of 654 adults aged 65 and older. Depression in older adults is an increasing concern for health services given its current prevalence for this group, and its predicted trajectory to be the leading cause of disease burden in. Everyone feels down or sad sometimes, but these feelings usually pass after a few days. Oct 08, 2018 older adults grapple with clinical depression more than any other age group. Depressive symptoms have been associated with increased. Depression is a common problem among older adults, but it is not a normal part of aging. As a result of this attention to the mental health problems of older adults, the onceseparate public health and mental health systems are starting to work more closely together to address depression among older adults. Background previous estimates of the prevalence of geriatric depression have varied. Depression is not just having the blues or the emotions. Depression is especially common in people with other medical problems. In fact, studies show that most older adults feel satisfied with their lives, despite having more illnesses or physical problems. Depression is less prevalent among older adults than among younger adults, but it can have serious consequences. Some of the consequences of depression in later life are increased health costs, patient and caregiver distress, amplified disabilities, and increased mortality related. If you are concerned about a loved one, offer to go with him or her to see a health care provider to be diagnosed and treated.
Causes and diagnosis of depression in elderly people. Unfortunately, the symptoms of depression in older adults are often missed and thus go untreated. Further assessment the geriatric depression scale was developed as a screening and assessment tool for depression in older adults. Older adults and depression learn the signs and find treatment. Depressed older adults are less likely to endorse affective symptoms and. However older adults are at an increased risk for experiencing depression. This article describes the signs and symptoms common in older adults, outlines several types of depressive disorders, discusses screening tools, describes treatment modalities, and addresses nursing. No us studies have been published since the advent of the newer antidepressant agents. Ect also known as shock treatment may be very useful in the treatment of severe depression in older adults. Depression is not a normal part of growing older healthy. Depression in older adults contrary to popular belief, depression is not a normal part of the aging process. Older adults make up 12 percent of the american population, but will grow to 20 percent of the population by 2030.
Depression in older adults can be disabling, contributing to problems with activities of daily living and thus increasing their dependence on others and the health care system. Prevalence of depression and its treatment in an elderly. This illness can be overlooked for some older adults because sadness is not their main symptom. It is different from normal feelings of sadness, grief, or low energy. Illness and disability, chronic or severe pain, cognitive decline, damage to your body image due to surgery or sickness can all be contributors to depression. More than half of cases represent a first onset in later life. Depression in later life is an illness that can be treated. It is not a normal part of aging, a sign of weakness, or a character flaw. Are you having trouble working, sleeping, eating, and functioning.
Some people think that depression is normal with age. Depression is a serious illness that needs treatment. Although suicide rates in the elderly are declining, they are still higher than in younger adults and are more closely associated with depression. Depression is an important cause of suffering among older adults as well as a significant contributor to the morbidity and mortality caused by other illnesses. Causes of depression in older people there can be multiple causes for depression in older people. Depression is a common concern among older adults, but it is not a normal part of aging. An older person in good physical health with no history of previous episodes has a relatively low risk of developing depression at a later age. For example, nearly a quarter of the 600,000 people who experience a. According to the 2010 census, in the united states, there were 40. Cdc promotes public health approach to address depression. Depression in elderly people often goes untreated because many people think that depression is a normal part of aginga natural. Use the checklist on the next page to determine if you or someone you know may be at risk for depression. Latelife depression lld is defined as a depressive disorder occurring in a patient older than 60 years, although the onset and definition of cutoff may vary. When you have depression, you have trouble with daily life for weeks at a time.
The rapid increase in the numbers of older adults worldwide makes a focus on mental disorders and aging both timely and imperative. While depression is not a normal part of the aging process, there is a strong likelihood of it occurring when other physical health conditions are present. Because most studies of treatments for depression have been done with younger adults, there is limited research to guide clinicians in choosing the best treatments for older patients. Physical ill health there is a complex relationship between physical. Depression in older persons is closely associated with dependency and disability and causes great distress for the individual and the family. Depression in older adults depression affects more than 19 million americans every year, regardless of age, race, or gender. It poses diagnostic difficulties in this population for several reasons. Have you lost interest in many of the activities and interests you previously enjoyed. Although depression is not a normal response to changes that occur in older adulthood, this medical problem affects many older adults. Relapse and recurrence of a depressive episode is common after acute antidepressant treatment. Depression in older adults british journal of medical. Their management may be complicated by contraindications for antidepressants.
There are brief screening tools that have proven effective in this population, and once recognized, depression is highly treatable. Although common, it is not a normal consequence of aging. The original scale consisted of 30 questions but was considered too time consuming by some patients and. National institute of mental health depression basics. This brochure describes the signs, symptoms, and treatment options for depression in older adults.
In a recent work, byers and colleagues found that the prevalence of major depression and dysthymia in older adults was 4 % and 0. For example, an 80yearold man who lives alone, has been depressed for months, lost. For elderly people living independently, isolation can make it difficult to reach out for help. One thing that is vital to understand when dealing with depression in older adults is that they are often having to deal with loss, says louise morse, cognitive behavioural therapist at pilgrims friend society. Ect can be safe and highly effective for severe, treatmentresistant depression, as well as a variety of other serious mental disorders. Major depression is reported in 516% of community dwelling older adults, up to 54% in the first year living in a nursing home, and 1012% of hospitalized older adults blazer, 2009.