Essay Example - Depression in Older People

Is depression a normal portion of aging? Most people interpret depression as a part of old age, which is not valid in my opinion as the young people also get depressed. Therefore, my paper analyses depression among older adults. It addresses signs of depression among aging, how depression affects them, the behaviors indicating that the depressed need therapy, and what kind of treatment a professional should recommend to those affected (Orgeta, Brede & Livingston, 2017). Besides, the paper addresses the reason for the recommendation of the treatment.

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How would one know if an elderly relative had clinical depression or was sad because of specific life changes and losses?

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.), many older adults with depression develop sure signs. Some of the signs that show that an elderly relative has clinical depression or sad are persistent grief and gloom, restlessness, fatigue, short breaths, tremors, body aches, heavy perspiration, nausea, and vomiting, among others (Orgeta, Brede & Livingston, 2017). Elderly relatives may also experience mental problems like their incapability to remember everyday things or remaining focused. These older people even lose interest in their hobbies, lose weight, disturbances in sleep, clumsiness, and thoughts of committing suicide, which is associated with a lack of interest in life. The elderly also tend to use drugs like alcohol, skipping meals together with not observing hygiene. There is also mood fracas that may show in the form of irritability and fear of dying. Therefore, to recognize if elderly relatives have clinical depression or sad due to specific life changes would involve observing the above signs among the elderly.

What are the consequences of depression in the elderly?

Inborn genetic vulnerability to depression and sadness may be generated by old age trials like losing a partner or spouse, or even friends, increasing disability, mental impairment co-existing medical glitches, and social isolation. Regrettably, these problems always go undiagnosed, not treated, thereby resulting in increased depression that causes disability, making elders stay in nursing homes, and also resulting in deaths. Depression among the elderly is also associated with suicide risks. Research in the United States shows that people above the age of 85 are the most prone to suicide. If the elderly persons fail to seek treatment, they may face risks of an increase in morbidity, deteriorating emotional welfare of adults, substance abuse, increased thoughts of committing suicide, among other health complications.

Which behaviors would indicate a person going through depression needs therapy?

The general misconception is that before seeking therapy, an individual must show craziness or desperation. However, treatment is suitable for every person going through little struggles that life throws on one's way, and more especially for loners without family and friends. Therefore, for a person going through depression, numerous behaviors are indicating that they are depressed, and thus, they need therapy. The actions showing that one is depressed and that they require treatment are when they feel angry or sad together with hopelessness. These are signs of mental health issues that may improve when treated. When faced with such a problem, depressed persons need to share with someone, lest serious problems develop that would affect their quality of life, like having thoughts of suicide. Another sign that a depressed person needs therapy is when they involve in excessive usage of drugs or sex to cope with their gloom. If one is unable to control this behavior, notwithstanding negative impacts in their lives, it means they are struggling with addiction, which needs treatment. Someone who has lost a loved one through deaths or divorce may also find difficulty enduring the situation without the help of an expert. Even though not every person requires counseling during such times, people should not shy off from seeking expert advice. Also, someone who has gone through traumatic experiences like neglect, abuse, or other traumas should seek therapy to get rid of post-trauma behaviors like being unable to do things the way they previously did. I suggest, therefore, that when the discussed behavior occurs in depressed persons, they need to seek therapy.

What kind of therapy would be a professional recommendation, and why?

The appropriate therapy a profession should recommend to depressed individuals is the discriminatory serotonin reuptake inhibitors. For example, citalopram and fluoxetine are useful as first-line misery treatment for the elderly because these recommended drugs contain less fatal effects compared to other antidepressants that are prone to interact with other therapies (Titzler, Saruhanjan, Berking, Riper & Ebert, 2018). Further medication selections that need recommendations are old props, like lithium, and antidepressants containing diverse mechanisms of accomplishment, for example, bupropion mirtazapine, among others. In applying these therapies, there should be slow and gradual as some elderly relatives have existing medical complications and thus are prone to the risks associated with drug interactions compared to young people. Therefore, a professional should advise that older people start with low doses, which can be increased gradually and at recommended levels. Professionals should also recommend alternative drugs and at recommended doses to observe if symptoms reduce (Titzler, Saruhanjan, Berking, Riper & Ebert, 2018). In case the pain does not subside, the professional need to adjust quantities or consider using other medications. Professionals should also recommend the maintenance of treatment throughout. Care of therapy is vital as depression in individuals may reoccur after three years.

Conclusion

As illustrated in this paper, depression is not part of old age as some people interpret it. The above is accurate as studies show that it also affects young people in society. The paper thus explains how depression affects older adults and the signs and symptoms these people experience (Orgeta, Brede & Livingston, 2017). Lastly, the report presents the behaviors that show the depressed elderly need therapy and the kind of treatment a professional should recommend to them. Finally, the paper addresses the reason for the recommendation of the treatment.

References

Orgeta, V., Brede, J., & Livingston, G. (2017). Behavioral activation for depression in older people: systematic review and meta-analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 211(5), 274-279.

Titzler, I., Saruhanjan, K., Berking, M., Riper, H., & Ebert, D. D. (2018). Barriers and facilitators for the implementation of blended psychotherapy for depression: A qualitative pilot study of therapists' perspective. Internet interventions, 12, 150-164.