Causes and Symptoms for Elderly Depression
There are four major categories that these causes and symptoms can fall into for the elderly: physical factors that contribute to depression, psychological factors that can increase the risk for depression, personality factors that can lead to depression and finally certain medications can trigger elderly depression.
There are many reasons that we feel depressed as we age. The older we get the more events we experience that can be devastating such as natural disasters, chronic illness, job loss, financial instability and loss of loved ones to death. The elderly are also living in a increasingly youth-oriented society where they may feel out of place or undervalued by other members of the groups they associate with. Life changes also have a way of causing one to feel lonely or sad such as multiple moves, changes in career, or relationships and we naturally accumulate these as we age. There are four major categories that these causes and symptoms can fall into for the elderly: physical factors that contribute to depression, psychological factors that can increase the risk for depression, personality factors that can lead to depression and finally certain medications can trigger elderly depression.
The physical factors that can lead to depression in the elderly are:
Heredity can pre-dispose a person to depression
Those who are in constant physical pain from illness or injury can also have an increased risk for depression
Chronic diseases such as cancer can trigger depression
Psychological factors that can contribute to the occurrence of depression in the elderly are:
Those who have gone through the loss of loved ones in the same age bracket, to death and are can have a fear of dying themselves that can manifest in depression
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If the underlying cause is not addressed during the treatment plan than the depression is likely to resurface at a later date when medication or therapy is stopped and the cause is still present in the life of the elderly individual.
Interpersonal therapy can address the psychological and personality factors that may exist so that support systems can be put into place to continue on a regular basis even after medication maintenance is stopped.
Community support groups are springing up in most locations to help address senior issues such as mobility needs daily living task support and meal preparation.
Elderly Depression
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The elderly face major life changes such as sons and daughters leaving home, retirement, moving from a larger home into a smaller one or to a retirement community or nursing home.
The elderly can also encounter feelings of guilt over not having accomplished goals that were previously set for them or by them.
Personality factors that can contribute to depression in the elderly individual:
Certain elderly individuals have more a difficult time becoming dependent after losing a spouse when their personality was one of being more dependent than independent.
The elderly can also easily lose self-confidence or self-esteem when everything around them seems to change especially with new technology.
Certain medications can also trigger depression in the elderly:
Elderly people are especially at risk for depression when taking the following medications:
Zovirax, a drug used in elderly to treat both herpes and shingles.
Alcohol when consumed by the elderly individual can also increase the risk for depression.
Anticonvulsants such as Celontin and Zarontin that are used to control epileptic seizures can also lead to symptoms of depression.
Certain central nervous system depressants that are use dto treat insomnia or anxiety or are used as a muscle relaxer can also cause depression such as Benzodiazepine, Ativan, Dalman, Halcion, Klonopin, Librium, Valium and Xanax.
Another group of central nervous system depressants an actually slow down brain function, called barbiturates such as phenobarbital and secobarbital can lead to depression symptoms.
Parlodel a medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease has also been shown to increase the chance for depression in elderly.
Other medications that may also increase the risk for depression in the elderly individual are estrogens such as premarin and prempro or fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as Cipro and Floxin and narcotics used to treat pain.
Current Facts About Elderly Depression
11/18/2008
North Chicago man: dying a slow death (Lake County News-Sun)
Eugene Phelps believes he is dying a slow death. The 57-year-old North Chicago man is partially paralyzed, has diabetes and heart disease. However, he says those illnesses are not what's killing him. Phelps blames the Illinois Department of Health and Human Services, which he said has been giving him the runaround the past four years about cleaning toxic mold in his home. "I don't understand why ...
North Chicago man: dying a slow death (Lake County News-Sun)
11/20/2008
Austrian Death Machine Christmas release (Kerrang.com)
Austrian Death Machine - the Arnie-inspired side-project of As I Lay Dying frontman Tim L - have announced a Christmas release.
Austrian Death Machine Christmas release (Kerrang.com)
11/20/2008
CNN - WWII Soldier Learns Of Brother's Death Camp Hell (WSMV Nashville)
Bernard Vogel Was A U.S. Soldier Who Died In A Nazi Slave Camp During World War II. For 63 Years, His Brother, Martin, Longed For Answers. With The Help Of CNN, He Finally Has The Truth. "You Don't Know How Much This Means," He Said Between Sobs. Martin Would Learn Another Stunning Detail: The Government Commuted The Death Sentences Of Those Responsible.
CNN - WWII Soldier Learns Of Brother's Death Camp Hell (WSMV Nashville)
11/20/2008
Changes in traffic law may not drive death from the roads (Times Online)
With fewer people dying on the roads than at any time since records began in 1926, it may be difficult to understand why the Government is taking a harder line with those who speed or drive carelessly.
Changes in traffic law may not drive death from the roads (Times Online)
11/18/2008
North Chicago man: dying a slow death (Lake County News-Sun)
Eugene Phelps believes he is dying a slow death. The 57-year-old North Chicago man is partially paralyzed, has diabetes and heart disease. However, he says those illnesses are not what's killing him. Phelps blames the Illinois Department of Health and Human Services, which he said has been giving him the runaround the past four years about cleaning toxic mold in his home. "I don't understand why ...
North Chicago man: dying a slow death (Lake County News-Sun)
11/20/2008
Austrian Death Machine Christmas release (Kerrang.com)
Austrian Death Machine - the Arnie-inspired side-project of As I Lay Dying frontman Tim L - have announced a Christmas release.
Austrian Death Machine Christmas release (Kerrang.com)
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