Depression and Older Adults
Depression is a serious mood disorder. The most common, costly, and life-threatening mental condition is depression. Despite having more illnesses or physical challenges, most older persons are content with their life. Clinical depression is not a normal aspect of ageing, although it is a prevalent condition among older persons. However, if you've experienced depression as a younger person, you may be more likely to have depression as an older. Statistics show that the majority of older folks are content with their life. A gloomy mood that lasts for at least two years is known as persistent depressive disorder (also known as dysthymia).
Many women have "baby blues" (relatively mild melancholy and anxiety symptoms that normally disappear within two weeks following delivery) after giving birth, but postpartum depression is considerably more dangerous. During pregnancy or after delivery, women with postpartum depression have full-blown severe depression (postpartum depression). Postpartum depression can make it difficult for new moms to complete daily care activities for themselves and/or their kids due to emotions of severe grief, worry, and weariness.
When a person has severe depression with some type of psychosis, they are said to have psychotic depression (hallucinations).
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is the commencement of sorrow throughout the winter months. It's typically initiated with social withdrawal, more sleep, and weight gain. Winter depression normally passes in the spring and summer, although it can resurface after a person has recovered each year.
Neurological changes in few people and others may be depressed as a result of a big life event, such as a medical diagnosis or the death of a loved one. People who are under a lot of stress, particularly those who are caring for loved ones who have a significant disease or handicap, might become depressed. Others may experience depression for no apparent reason. Depression is now recognised as a condition that affects children and adolescents, albeit it is sometimes accompanied with irritation rather than a poor mood. Many chronic mood and anxiety problems in adults start in childhood with high levels of anxiety.
Depression can co-occur with other significant medical disorders such diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and Parkinson's disease, especially in midlife or older persons. Medication for these medical conditions might sometimes have negative side effects that contribute to depression. A doctor with experience managing these complex conditions can assist in determining the appropriate treatment plan.
In younger people, depression is often undiagnosed and untreated, and they may be hesitant to seek help if they think it is simply a sign of ageing. In older persons, depression symptoms may be different or less noticeable and they include :
· Memory problems or personality fluctuations
· Aches and pains in the body
· Fatigue, loss of appetite, sleep issues, or a lack of desire in sex – none of these symptoms are caused by a medical illness or medicine.
· Rather than going out to interact or try new things, they prefer to stay at home.
· Suicidal thoughts or impulses, particularly among elderly males
In up to 80% of older persons, effective therapies can lower the severity of depression. Psychotherapy therapies, antidepressant drugs, multidisciplinary geriatric mental health outreach programmes, and collaborative and integrated mental and physical health care are all EBPs for treating depression in older individuals.
· depression symptoms are reduced,
· boost your health and overall ability to function.
The choice of an EBP is based on the older adult's difficulties, desired results, and treatment preferences. The nature and severity of depression, prior history of effective treatments, the presence of other health conditions or medications, tolerability of side effects or required effort, and the older adult's preferences and personal values regarding these treatment characteristics may all influence the choice of one of these interventions over the other. Randomized controlled studies were used to test EBPs...