Elderly depression Causes Symptoms, Treatment of elderly depression
Elderly depression is the depression seen in the old age people. Most of the old age people are at the risk of Elderly depression with number of risk factors. Nearly 10 to 15 % of aged people about 65 years suffer from elderly depression. Elderly depression is one of the major public health problems. A research study says that older adults with both diabetes and elderly depression are 36 percent to 38 percent risk of dying from any cause.
Most of the elderly depressions are not identified easily in nursing homes and general hospitals. A mental health center is the right place to diagnose elderly depression and to provide appropriate mental health care. Hospitalization and different psychotherapies helps in reducing depression and restoration of mental health.
Somatic complaints and cognitive impairments are main symptoms usually associated with elderly depression. Antidepressant medications are given to treat depression in elders and the dosage fixing and checking for drug tolerance is very important.
Causes of elderly depression are
- Normal aging process makes the individual weak, both mentally and physically. The feeling weak and the fear of death is the main cause of Elderly depression.
- Loss of spouse or loved one causes depression in most of the aged person.
- Loneliness tends the person to become depressed.
- Lack of mental support from the family members may cause depression in old age people.
- Loss of independence may affect psychologically.
- Feeling of being neglected form young ones also causes Elderly depression in old age people.
- Fear of death or dying,
- Feelings of purposelessness,
- Chronic medical illnesses such as psychological disorders, chronic disorders such as diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, paralysis, stroke, limb fractures, immobility and other disorders causes Elderly depression of old age.
- Nutritional deficiency,
- Prolonged drug therapy and adverse drug reactions cause may cause depression.
- Psychosocial factors and
- Mental health problem are the major causes of Elderly depression of old age.
- Feelings of purposelessness and loss of hope, loss of career, loss in the business cause depression.
- Loss of mobility due to joint deformity
- Remittent during the past, are the main causes of Elderly depression.
Symptoms of Elderly depression are
- The depressed elder one likes to be alone; always.
- Refuses to take food very weak interest towards food.
- Loss of appetite and weight loss,
- Loss of self-worth is the main symptom of Elderly depression.
- Deficit sleep is complained by most of old age one.
- Sadness with poor facial expression is seen in depression patient.
- Anxiety, irritability and worries are expressed by depression and psychological disorder.
- Neglects personal care is seen especially with psychological disordered depression patients.
- Loss of memory is common symptom of old age depression.
- Most of Elderly depression patients are not interested in mingling with family members,
- Social withdrawal and isolation is also a symptom of Elderly depression.
- Likes to stay in a dark room without lights and without ventilation.
- Fixation on death and likes to die; prays the god to grant death.
- Attempt to suicide is also considered as the symptom of old age depression or Elderly depression.
- Some old age or elderly depressed patients becomes alcoholics and drug abused.
Treatment of Elderly depression
Antideprssant therapy: Antidepressant medications lessen the symptoms of elderly depression. Care should be taken to lessen the side effects of drugs which occur in elders. Treating underlying cause of elderly depression is very important. Neuroleptic medications are also beneficial in some elderly depression individuals. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are the Antidepressant medications used in some patients.
Psychological counseling: is very beneficial in relieving symptoms of depression. Counseling should facilitate to make off loneliness and should be according to the need and life situation of elder ones. Watching for suicide accident and proper counseling regarding prevention or removing suicide thought is important.
Music therapy: Listening to musical songs, devotional songs also helps in treating elderly depression. ECT electro convulsive therapy can be given to some individuals.
Play Therapy: Play is an important activity makes an individual to come out of depression. The physical activity stimulates to produce the hormones, which keeps the body active. Engagement in activity relieves the mental stress. Regular walk, swimming, physical exercise, painting, playing with children and any activity stimulates physically or mentally is the good treatment for elderly depression. The play therapy is not applicable for all depression patients. Persons with physical mobility can engage in suitable and possible activities to come out of depression.
Emotional support: The family members should mingle with elders to remove loneliness. Make the elders to play with small kids. Take a regular walk and advice to love the environment. Make them feel some one is caring and loving the elders. Advice to recall and the care giver need to recall the happiest movements of their life to bring joy. Allow them to express their feelings and make the depressed elder to feel that he is important for us.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is given to improve positive thinking in depressed patients. Recovering from depression is possible with number of treatment options. Healthcaretips.psyhil.com wishes better recovery for depression patients.
By Signs of depression, July 29, 2010 @ 12:48 pm
In todays busy world Teen agers also getting effected by depression, is there anything common reason between all age of people which causes depression..?