Depression - elderly Health Article

Definition

Depression is a medical illness in which a person has feelings of sadness, discouragement, and a lack of self-worth.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Depression can be caused by:

• Changes within the family
• Chronic pain and illness
• Difficulty getting around
• Frustration with memory loss
• Loss of a spouse or close friend
• Trouble adapting to a life change such as moving from a home to a retirement facility

Depression can also be a sign of a medical problem. It can be a reaction to the illness, or caused by the disease itself. It may be complicated by brain disorders that occur with age, such as Alzheimer's disease. Depression is also a side effect of many drugs commonly prescribed for the elderly.

Depression in the elderly is a widespread problem that is often not diagnosed and frequently undertreated. Many older people will not admit to the signs and symptoms of depression, for fear that they will be seen as weak or crazy. Some older people may be aware of their depression, but believe that nothing can be done about it.

Symptoms

Symptoms of depression may not be easy to identify in older adults. Their symptoms are often ignored, or confused with other ailments common in the elderly, such as:

• Alzheimer's disease
• Arthritis
• Cancer
• Dementia
• Heart disease
• Parkinson's disease
• Stroke
• Thyroid disorders

Symptoms of depression include:

• Abnormal thoughts about death
• Abnormal thoughts, excessive or inappropriate guilt
• Aches and pains
• Change in appetite (usually a loss of appetite)
• Change in weight
  • Unintentional weight loss (most common)
  • Weight gain
• Depressed or irritable mood
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue (tiredness or weariness)
• Feelings of worthlessness or sadness
• Irresponsible behavior
• Loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities
• Memory loss
• Plans to commit suicide or actual suicide attempts
• Temper, agitation
• Thoughts about suicide
• Trouble sleeping
  • Daytime sleepiness
  • Difficulty falling asleep (initial insomnia)
  • Waking up many times through the night (middle insomnia)
  • Waking up early in the morning (terminal insomnia)

If you have these symptoms every day for more than 2 weeks, you likely have depression.

Depression in the elderly may be hard to detect because of several factors. Symptoms such as fatigue, appetite loss, and trouble sleeping also can be part of the aging process or a medical condition.

An elderly person may only have a decrease in the ability to perform everyday activities.