What Is Depression Treatment For Elderly? To Make Use Of It
Depression Treatment For Elderly People
Depression in older people can cause a worsening of their health issues and an increased risk of dying. It is crucial for them to see their doctor to ensure they are receiving the appropriate treatment.
Depression can be hard to diagnose in older adults because of a number of factors. Some of these include not diagnosing depression symptoms as a result of aging, or hiding them by coexisting medical conditions, absence of support from others and stigma.
Antidepressants
In most cases, the first step in treatment is to start taking antidepressants. These medications increase neurotransmitters in the brain, which can help improve mood and reduce depression symptoms. They are often used in combination with psychotherapy. It can take up to several weeks before they start to show results.
It is crucial to check the depression of patients who are elderly for co-morbidities and treat them appropriately. Many medical conditions, including strokes, heart disease, and chronic pain can lead to depression among elderly patients. They may be more susceptible to side effects from some medications.
The stigma associated with aging stops people from seeking medical assistance to address their emotional issues. Depression symptoms are often confused with other illnesses such as eating or pain problems caused by dentures. These symptoms can be exacerbated by the absence of social support and are difficult to communicate, especially with family members.
The vascular depression which occurs in older people is more frequent. This is due to a decline of blood flow to the head. As compared to other types of depression, vascular depression is associated with a greater degree of cognitive impairment and less responsiveness to treatment. This kind of depression is treated with a variety of medications such as SSRIs SNRIs TCAs.
Medications used to treat depression in older patients should be customized due to the fact that they are more susceptible to adverse reactions. Doctors should start with lower doses and then increase the dose gradually to account for age-related pharmacokinetic differences. They should also consider the effect other supplements and medications have on the patient's reaction to antidepressants.
It is important that doctors educate patients and their relatives about the symptoms of depression and treatment options. This will assist patients to comprehend their condition and adhere to their medication regimen. It is also important to let them know the lag time for antidepressant effects.
A detailed history is vital to evaluate depression in older people. This should include the date when depression first began to manifest and its connection to other life stressors as well as previous episodes of depression and any physical or medical disease. It is important to determine if depression symptoms are caused by medications or other health issues such as menopause and seasonal affective disorder.
Electroconvulsive therapy
ECT helps reset the brain to lessen depression symptoms. It is typically recommended to those who are unable to respond to medication or who have severe and life-threatening depression for example, those with suicidal feelings or medical conditions that are dangerous. Medicare and most insurance companies will cover ECT. It's usually performed in the hospital. You will be given general sedation and won't feel anything during the treatment. It could take up to six ECT treatments to treat your depression.
There is a possibility of experiencing confusion for a number of days or even hours after the procedure. It's also possible to lose memories during or immediately after ECT. However, these problems are generally temporary. It could take a few weeks to start recalling. You could be more vulnerable to complications from ECT when you have an existing history of heart disease. Those who have preexisting cardiac ailments should stay away from ECT unless it's advised by a doctor.
Recent research compared the rates for cardiac complications among patients with pre-existing heart conditions and those who do not have. Researchers discovered that the rate of complications was significantly higher for those who had already existing heart disease. The researchers suggested that a reduction in the use of ECT for elderly patients with heart disease may reduce the risk of complications.
ECT is effective in a wide range of depressive disorders. These include unipolar and bipolar depression and mania. It can also be used to treat other mental disorders, like schizophrenia and psychosis caused by antiparkinsonian medications. It is also used to treat dementia that is severe, especially when it is caused by a life-threatening condition.
If you're considering ECT, you and your doctor should conduct a thorough psychiatric assessment before you have the procedure. Your doctor should also look over your medical records to determine whether you have any other medical issues that could affect your response to treatment. If you have heart disease, your doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram (EKG) or chest X-ray before you receive ECT.
Psychotherapy
It can be challenging to diagnose and treat depression in the elderly. The stigma associated with mental illness can make it difficult for seniors to admit that they suffer from depression. They might be reluctant to seek help, and may be afraid of being a burden to their families. Depression can also increase a person's risk of developing heart disease and make it harder to recover from other illnesses. Psychotherapy is a successful treatment for depression in older people.
Depression is a prevalent condition for people over the age of. However, a lot sufferers aren't treated or are not diagnosed. This can be due to many reasons, including the wrong diagnosis or lack of knowledge on the part of health professionals. Patients who are older may experience symptoms such as an apathy, lack of interest in their daily activities, sleep disturbances, and constant thoughts of dying. These symptoms are commonly attributed to aging and dementia however, they are usually caused by depression.
A thorough assessment of a depressed elderly patient should include thorough history taking review of the patient's responses to previous treatments and laboratory tests as well. A minimum number of tests should include a haemogram aswell kidney function tests, liver function tests and urine analyses. Different tests like thyroid function tests, folate and vitamin B12 levels must be performed in the event of a nutritional deficiency as these can contribute to onset, continuation and maintenance of depression in the older.
The acute phase of treating depression should be centered on achieving remission and should be adapted to the needs of the patient. A psychotherapy program must be used in conjunction with antidepressant medications. The psychotherapy may be either long-term or short-term. It could focus on addressing apparent behavior and cognition issues or may focus on learning to understand and change deep-rooted emotional and relational issues.
In the maintenance and continuation phase the same antidepressant must be used as in the acute phase. This is done while keeping track of remission rates and relapse rates. It is essential to track the relapse rate of elderly patients, since they are more likely to relapse.
Social Support
Social support is an essential component of mental health. Studies show that people with strong social networks are less likely to be depressed and are better equipped to handle stressors in their lives. It is also crucial for maintaining an immune system that is strong. This is particularly applicable to older adults who are more stressed and have fewer healthy ways of coping. This is why social support is more important to them than it is for younger adults.
In fact it is true that a lack of support from family and friends is linked to poor health outcomes for older adults. Social support can help reduce the impact of negative events in life, such as the loss of a loved-one or an illness that is serious. It can also have a positive effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex (HPA) and noradrenergic systems. Therefore, it is important to determine and correct any issues that arise in this area to improve the patient's quality of life.
There are many ways that healthcare professionals can provide social support to an elderly person who is depressed. These include psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation. In addition to improving mood, these treatments can also improve function and enhance independence. However, cognitive behavioral therapy for depression of care that patients receive is the most important factor in the recovery process.
Social support is defined as emotional support and instrumental support, in addition to a sense belonging and community. Emotional support includes the ability to speak with others about problems and feelings. Instrumental support is the capability to get assistance with work, and informational support is the ability to obtain guidance from an authoritative source.
In Vietnam there are a variety of types of social support, including immediate family, friends, neighbors and professional helpers. Social support can improve the quality-of-life of geriatrics and reduce the chance of suicide and medical illnesses. This is also linked to lower costs for psychiatric treatment and health treatment. This is an important benefit for both the public and private healthcare systems.