|
Treating Depression in the Elderly
Although roadblocks to
treatment exist for most individuals with depression an older
adult's road to recovery can seem especially difficult. For example,
in older people, depression is sometimes mistaken for dementia. Or
it may occur in conjunction with dementia or other illnesses that
mask the depressive symptoms. Health care professionals may treat
the medical illness and overlook the depression. In addition, many
in this older generation mistakenly regard depression as a weakness
or a shameful family secret. In fact, older people are least likely
to seek help for depression. Those who do seek help may need to pay
for it out of pocket or bridge a wide gap between the costs and what
Medicare will cover.
Once an older person seeks treatment, other problems may arise. For
example, older adults are sometimes more sensitive to side effects
of antidepressants. These drugs also may not mix well with
medication they take for other illnesses. For these reasons, as many
as 40% of older people taking antidepressants quit or repeatedly
miss doses because of side effects, memory problems, or difficulty
keeping track of complicated drug regimens. Although older patients
with severe depression appear to respond to antidepressant drugs
about as well as younger people, they
sometimes improve more slowly and relapse sooner. However, a
knowledgeable doctor can help see you through these kinds of
concerns.
Psychotherapy alone may help older patients with milder depression,
while combining psychotherapy with medication may be helpful for
those with more severe depression. Older adults in good physical and
cognitive health may respond well to cognitive behavioral therapy or
interpersonal therapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy has also shown promise among the
cognitively impaired and physically ill.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/understanding/treating-depression-in-elderly.aspx
|