Depression Treatment For Elderly People
Depression in people who are older can lead to a worsening of their health issues and a higher risk of death. It is important to see a doctor to ensure the right treatment.
Depression can be difficult to diagnose in older people due to a variety of factors. This includes misinterpreting depression symptoms as a normal aspect of aging or covering them up with coexisting medical conditions, lack of social support, and stigma.
Antidepressants
In many cases, the first step to treat is to begin taking antidepressants. These medications boost neurotransmitters in the brain, which can help improve mood and reduce depression symptoms. They are usually employed in conjunction with psychotherapy. It may take several weeks for them to begin working and it is essential to follow the exact dosage prescribed.
It is essential to examine elderly patients with depression for co-morbidities and take appropriate care of them. Many times, medical conditions like heart disease, stroke and chronic pain cause depression in older patients. They are also more susceptible to the side effects of some medication.
The stigma of aging prevents people from seeking medical attention for their emotional problems. Depression-related symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions, like eating disorders, pain or denture-related and disturbed sleep patterns. These symptoms are made worse by the absence of social support, and can be difficult to communicate with family members.
The older age group is more likely to experience vascular depression, caused by an increase in the flow of blood to the brain. Compared to other types of depression, vascular depression is associated with a greater degree of cognitive impairment and poorer response to treatment. Fortunately, this kind of depression can be treated using a variety of treatments, including SSRIs, TCAs, and SNRIs.
The medications used to treat depression in older patients must be individualized, as they are more prone to adverse reactions. Doctors should start with lower doses and then increase them gradually to take into account pharmacokinetic variations due to age. They should also consider the effect other supplements and medications have on the patient's reaction to antidepressants.
It is essential for doctors to inform patients and their families about the signs of depression as well as the treatment options available. This will assist patients to understand their condition and stick to their medication regimen. It is also important to let patients know about the time lag for the effects of antidepressants.
In order to evaluate depression in older people an extensive history needs to be taken. This should include information on the date of the onset, its connection to other life stressors and previous episodes of depression. It is crucial to determine whether depression symptoms are caused by medication or other health conditions like menopausal and seasonal affective disorder.
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy, commonly referred to as ECT can help the brain do a kind of reset to reduce depression symptoms. It is typically recommended to those who are unable to respond to medication or who have life-threatening depression that is severe like those who have suicidal thoughts or medical conditions that pose danger. The majority of insurance companies and Medicare cover ECT. It is usually administered in an hospital. You'll be given an general anesthetic when it's done and you will not feel anything during the procedure. It can take six ECT treatments to treat your depression.
You may have confusion for some time or for a few days following the treatment. It is possible to lose things right after or during ECT. However, these problems tend to be temporary. It could take several months before you start remembering things. If you have a history of cardiac disease, you may be at a higher risk of complications from ECT. People with preexisting cardiac issues should avoid ECT unless recommended by your doctor.
A recent study has compared the incidence of cardiac complications during ECT in patients who have and without any heart disease pre-existing. Researchers discovered that the rate of complications was significantly higher in the group with already existing heart disease. The researchers suggested that a decrease in the use of ECT for patients who are elderly and have underlying cardiovascular problems could help lower the complication rate.
ECT is effective in a wide range of depressive disorders. These include bipolar and unipolar depression as well as mania. It is also used to treat other mental disorders, like schizophrenia and psychosis triggered by antiparkinsonian medications. It's also a possibility of treatment for severe dementia, particularly when it's caused by a life-threatening medical condition.
If you're considering ECT treatment, you and your doctor should do a thorough psychiatric evaluation prior to having the procedure. Your doctor should also look over your medical records to determine whether you have any other medical issues which could impact your response to treatment. www.iampsychiatry.com may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram or a chest X-ray prior to receiving ECT when you suffer from an issue with your cardiac system.
Psychotherapy
Depression in the elderly can be difficult to diagnose and treat. Older adults often have a harder time admitting they suffer from depression due to the stigma associated with mental illness. They might be reluctant to seek help, and may be afraid of being a burden to their families. Depression can also increase an older person's risk of heart disease and make it harder to recover from other ailments. Psychotherapy can be an effective treatment option for depression in older people.
Depression is a common disorder for the elderly, but many of these patients aren't treated or diagnosed. This is due to a variety of causes that include misdiagnosis, as well as lack of awareness by health professionals. Patients may experience symptoms like an absence of interest, apathy in everyday activities, sleep disorders and frequent thoughts of death. These symptoms are usually due to aging and dementia however, they are usually caused by depression.
A comprehensive evaluation of a depressed elderly patient should include a thorough history-taking, review of response to previous treatment and laboratory tests, too. A minimum set of tests should include a haemogram as well as liver function tests, kidney function tests and urine analyses. In the case of an underlying nutritional deficiency, various investigations like thyroid function tests, folate and vitamin B12 levels, should be conducted.
The acute phase of treating depression must be focused on achieving remission. It should be adapted to the individual's needs. A psychotherapy program must be used in conjunction with the antidepressant medication. The psychotherapy may be short-term or long-term. It could focus on dealing with apparent behavior and cognition issues or may focus on learning to understand and change deep-rooted emotional and relational issues.
In the continuation and maintenance phase, the same antidepressant should be used as in the acute phase. This should be done while carefully keeping track of remission rates and relapse rate. A careful monitoring of the relapse rate is also vital for older patients since they have a higher tendency to relapse compared to younger patients.
Social Support
Social support is a vital aspect of mental health. People with strong social networks are less at risk of chance of developing depression and are better able to handle stress. It is also crucial to maintain an energised immune system. This is particularly relevant for older adults, who are more prone to high levels of stress and less healthy ways of coping. This is why social support is more important to them than it is for younger adults.
In fact, a lack of support from family and friends is linked to poor health outcomes for older adults. It has been proven that social support can help mitigate the negative effects of life events, like the loss of a loved one, or an illness of a serious nature. It can also have a positive effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex (HPA) and noradrenergic systems. To improve the quality of life for patients it is crucial to recognize any issues in this region and tackle them.
There are a variety of ways healthcare providers can provide social support for a depressed senior. Psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy are a few of the options. In addition to improving mood the treatments help improve function and increase independence. However, the quality of care that patients receive is the most important factor in the recovery process.
Social support can be described as both instrumental and emotional support in addition to the sense of belonging and community. Support for emotions includes the ability to speak to others about issues and feelings, instrumental support is the capability to receive help with tasks, and informational support is the ability to obtain advice from an authority you trust.
There are a variety of social support available in Vietnam, including immediate family members friends, neighbors, and professional helpers. Social support can enhance the quality-of-life of geriatrics and reduce the risk of suicide and medical illness. This is in turn linked with lower costs for psychiatric treatment and health treatment. This is a major benefit for both the public and private health systems.