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Depression in Older Adults

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KEY POINTS

  • Depression is a condition in which you feel sad, hopeless, and uninterested in daily life. Depression is a common problem among older adults, but it is not a normal part of aging.
  • Treatment may include medicines, therapy, and learning ways to manage stress. In severe cases, you may need to be treated in the hospital.
  • If you are depressed and feel that you could hurt yourself or someone else, call your healthcare provider or therapist right away.

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What is depression?

Depression is a condition in which you feel sad, hopeless, and uninterested in daily life. The depression may keep you from doing everyday activities. Depression can be mild to severe. It can last for a short time or a long time.

Depression is a common problem among older adults, but it is not a normal part of aging. In fact, studies show that older adults generally feel satisfied with their lives, even though they may have more medical problems. If you have depression, it’s important to get treatment.

What is the cause?

The exact cause of depression is not known. Possible causes include:

  • The brain makes chemicals that affect thoughts, emotions, and actions. Without the right balance of these chemicals, there may be problems with the way you think, feel, or act. People with this disorder may have too little or too much of some of these chemicals.
  • Depression disorders tend to run in families. It is not known if this is caused by genes passed from parent to child. It may also be that parents have a negative outlook, and children learn this behavior from the parents.
  • Some medicines can cause depression or make it worse. These include some blood pressure medicines, antianxiety medicines, sleeping pills, seizure medicines, and steroids such as prednisone.
  • A major medical problem such as Alzheimer’s disease or cancer increases your risk for depression. Life situations such as loss and loneliness may also cause depression.

What are the symptoms?

Depressed older people are more likely to complain of physical problems than of being depressed. Besides feeling sad and uninterested in things you usually enjoy, symptoms may include:

  • Being irritable or restless
  • Having trouble falling asleep, waking up very early, or sleeping more than usual
  • Noticing changes in your appetite and weight, either up or down
  • Feeling very tired or low energy
  • Losing interest in sex
  • Feeling worthless and guilty
  • Feeling worthless, guilty, and that everything will turn out badly
  • Feeling confused or not being able to concentrate or remember things

Tiredness, mood changes, sleepiness, and memory problems may be side effects of medicines rather than symptoms of depression. Other medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease, can also cause similar symptoms.

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider or therapist will ask about your symptoms. He will make sure you do not have a medical illness or drug or alcohol problem that could cause the symptoms.

How is it treated?

Many older adults think that they are too old to get help, or that getting help is a sign of weakness. This is not true. Depression is a physical illness and rarely goes away by itself. Depression can be successfully treated with therapy, medicine, or both.

Medicine

First, your healthcare provider will treat any medical problem that may be causing your symptoms or adjust any medicines that could be making your symptoms worse. Several types of medicines can help. Your healthcare provider will work with you to select the best medicine.

Therapy

Seeing a mental health therapist is helpful. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy that helps you identify and change thought processes. Learning ways to replace negative thoughts with more positive ones can help your depression.

Other treatments

Diets rich in fruits and vegetables are recommended. A multivitamin and mineral supplement may also be recommended. Learning ways to relax may help. Yoga and meditation may also be helpful. You may want to talk with your healthcare provider about using these methods along with medicines and therapy.

Claims have been made that certain herbal and dietary products help control depression symptoms. Omega-3 fatty acids may help to reduce symptoms of depression. St. John's wort may help mild symptoms of depression. It will not help severe cases of depression. No herb or dietary supplement has been proven to consistently or completely relieve the symptoms of depression. Supplements are not tested or standardized and may vary in strengths and effects. They are not always safe. They may have side effects and interact with your prescribed medicines. Talk with your healthcare provider before you use any of these products.

How can I take care of myself?

  • Get support. Talk with family and friends. Consider joining a support group in your area.
  • Be active. Do things you might enjoy, even if you don’t feel like doing it.
  • Learn to manage stress. Ask for help when the load is too great to handle. Find ways to relax. For example take up a hobby, listen to music, watch movies, or take walks. Try yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises when you feel stressed.
  • Take care of your physical health. Try to get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Eat a healthy diet. Limit caffeine. If you smoke, try to quit. Avoid alcohol and drugs, because they can make your symptoms worse. Exercise according to your healthcare provider's instructions.
  • Check your medicines. Take your medicines as prescribed and tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects. To help prevent problems, tell your healthcare provider and pharmacist about all the medicines, natural remedies, vitamins, and other supplements that you take. Certain medicines can add to the symptoms of depression.
  • Contact your healthcare provider or therapist if you have any questions or your symptoms seem to be getting worse.

Get emergency care if you or a loved one have serious thoughts of suicide or harming others.

For more information, contact:

Developed by RelayHealth.
Adult Advisor 2016.4 published by RelayHealth.
Last modified: 2016-03-03
Last reviewed: 2016-08-05
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2016 RelayHealth, a division of McKesson Technologies Inc. All rights reserved.
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