Depression is Quite Common Among Older
Adults
Depression is a medical condition that affects 19 million Americans
each year. Experts estimate that 15 out of every 100 adults will experience
a depressive episode at some point during their elderly years.
But depression is not a normal part of aging, and it should not go
overlooked or untreated in older adults.
Remember, if you are an older adult with depression, you are not
alone. Help is available.
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What Depression is
Everyone gets sad sometimes—a brief blue mood, disappointments,
grief after losing a loved one. Depression, though, is different.
Depression is not just a case of the blues. For example, people who
are sad or grieving typically can continue with their usual daily
routines, but depressed people will have symptoms over a longer period
of time (2 weeks or more) that interfere with their ability to function
normally.
Depression is a very real and serious medical illness often caused
by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. Much like diabetes, asthma,
or heart disease, depression is a disease that requires medical attention
and treatment. Otherwise, if left untreated, depression can last months
or, in some cases, years.
If it is not treated in older adults, depression can:
- Lead to disability
- Worsen symptoms of other illnesses
- Increase the possibility of a premature death
- Increase the risk of suicide
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What Depression is Not
In older adults living in the U.S., depression is often overlooked
and left untreated. One reason this sometimes happens is that there
are people who incorrectly believe depression is a normal part of
the aging process. (Depression is not a normal part of aging for anyone.)
As a result, some older adults continue holding onto the mistaken
belief that they have to "stay strong and tough it out."
Simply put, people of all ages need to understand that telling loved
ones or healthcare professionals about symptoms of depression is not
a sign of personal weakness or a character flaw. In fact, telling
people that you are having symptoms of depression is an extremely
important first step to getting help…and getting better.
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Some Common Symptoms of Depression in Older Adults
Among older adults suffering from depression, the following symptoms
may be seen:
- Persistent sadness (every day, lasting all or nearly all day,
for 2 weeks or more)
- Feelings of worthlessness or helplessness
- Feeling slowed down
- Excessive worries about health and financial problems
- Frequent tearfulness
- Changes in weight
- Pacing and fidgeting
- Difficulty sleeping
- Difficulty concentrating
- Physical problems (for example, pain or gastrointestinal problems)
- Recurring thoughts of suicide or death
Important Note: If you or someone you know has thoughts
of suicide, seek professional help immediately through your healthcare
provider, or call 411 to get the phone number for the nearest local
suicide hotline.
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In Older Adults, Other Illnesses Can Play a Role in Causing-or
Worsening-Depression
Other medical illnesses can trigger depression in many older adults.
Depression, in turn, can often worsen the symptoms of these other
illnesses. Below is a list of some of the illnesses frequently associated
with depression in older adults:
- Cancer
- Parkinson's disease
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Alzheimer's disease
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Physical disabilities
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Good News: With Proper Treatment, More Than 80% of People
with Depression Can Improve
There are two main treatments for depression— counseling, also
called psychotherapy, and medication. For some people, either treatment
alone may be sufficient. For others, the most effective therapy is
a combination of the two.
Counseling, or psychotherapy, is often called "talk" therapy,
and it comes in many forms. Basically, psychotherapy is aimed at helping
a person develop new ways to cope with problems, and to identify and
understand more about depression and how to avoid it in the future.
Psychotherapy may take place in individual, group, or family sessions,
and the process itself may take some time before it is effective.
Antidepressant medication works by helping to correct the imbalance
of certain chemicals in the brain. These medications may take several
weeks to be effective, but they work well and are generally safe.
There are three main groups of antidepressants: selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclics (TCAs), and monoamine oxidase
inhibitors (MAOIs). SSRIs are the newest class of antidepressants.
They help to relieve the symptoms of depression by increasing the
available supply of serotonin, a substance in the brain believed to
influence mood.
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If Your Healthcare Provider Does Prescribe an Antidepressant
for You
Be sure to tell him or her if you are taking any other medications,
including those obtained over the counter. This is especially important
for older adults, who often take many different medications.
Follow all of your healthcare provider's instructions about how and
when you should take your antidepressant medication. If you experience
side effects at any point while you are taking a medication prescribed
by your healthcare professional, contact him or her as soon as possible
to share this information.
It is important to take your medication as long as your healthcare
provider instructs, even if you start feeling better, because otherwise
your depression could return or worsen. And remember, studies show
most antidepressants are not addictive, particularly the newer classes
of antidepressants such as SSRIs.
In addition to therapy and medication, there are other things that
depressed people can do that may help them start feeling better, including:
exercising, improving their diet, establishing a normal full-night
sleeping schedule, and reducing or eliminating caffeine and alcohol.
To find out which of these or other suggestions might be right for
you, talk with your healthcare provider.
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