What is the prognosis of depression?
The prognosis for patients with late-onset depression is felt to be poorer than that for younger patients, and it appears to be dependent on physical disability or illness and lack of social support. Of particular importance is the increasing risk of death by suicide, particularly among elderly men.
How does depression affect the elderly?
In older people, depression often goes along with other medical illnesses and disabilities and lasts longer. Depression in older adults is tied to a higher risk of cardiac diseases and of death from illness. At the same time, depression reduces an older person’s ability to rehabilitate.
What is true about depression in older adults?
Depression is a true and treatable medical condition, not a normal part of aging. However older adults are at an increased risk for experiencing depression. If you are concerned about a loved one, offer to go with him or her to see a health care provider to be diagnosed and treated.
What is the most common cause of depression in older adults?
Causes of depression in older adults These can include: Health problems. Illness and disability, chronic or severe pain, cognitive decline, damage to your body image due to surgery or sickness can all be contributors to depression. Loneliness and isolation.
What is the prognosis of anxiety disorder?
Prognosis. One systematic review found that 25 percent of adults with GAD will be in full remission after two years, and 38 percent will have a remission after five years. The Harvard/Brown Anxiety Research Program reported on the five-year follow-up of 167 persons with GAD.
What can happen if depression is not treated?
Untreated clinical depression is a serious problem. Untreated depression increases the chance of risky behaviors such as drug or alcohol addiction. It also can ruin relationships, cause problems at work, and make it difficult to overcome serious illnesses.
What does having depression mean?
Overview. Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.
Is depression in older adults treatable?
The good news is that, in most cases, depression is treatable in older adults. The right treatment may help improve your overall health and quality of life.
Can depression cause death elderly?
What’s more, symptoms of depression have been linked to heart disease and stroke in middle-aged and older adults. Researchers suggest that the depression-heart disease link could play a role in the increased risk of death among older adults who have symptoms of depression.
What is the long term prognosis of generalized anxiety disorder?
If the condition remains untreated, the prognosis is poor. Most patients will develop secondary depression, requiring medical and psychological therapy for the management of depression. With treatment the prognosis is good, as the risk of developing secondary depression is reduced.
What is depression pathophysiology?
The monoamine-deficiency theory posits that the underlying pathophysiological basis of depression is a depletion of the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine or dopamine in the central nervous system. Serotonin is the most extensively studied neurotransmitter in depression.
What is the prognosis of depression in the elderly?
Depression in the elderly is associated with an increased risk of cardiac diseases and an increased risk of death from illness. At the same time, depression reduces an elderly person’s ability to rehabilitate.
How does age affect the risk of depression?
The National Institute of Mental Health considers depression in people age 65 and older to be a major public health problem. In addition, advancing age is often accompanied by loss of social support systems due to the death of a spouse or siblings, retirement, or relocation of residence.
Is lasting depression a part of aging?
However, lasting depression is not a typical part of aging. Older adults are more likely to suffer from subsyndromal depression. This type of depression doesn’t always meet the full criteria for major depression. However, it can lead to major depression if left untreated.
What do you need to know about depression in older adults?
Depression and Older Adults 1 Depression Is Not a Normal Part of Aging. Depression is a common problem among older adults,… 2 Recognizing Symptoms of Depression in Older Adults. 3 Types of Depression. There are several types of depressive disorders. 4 Causes and Risk Factors for Depression. Several factors, or a combination of factors,…