Depression among elderly increasing

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

By Olivia Miwil

olivia@nst.com.my

AFTER her good friend passed away, a 67-year-old woman suffered from hypertension and complained of gastric pain, heart burn, palpitation, insomnia and constipation. 

One of her caregivers, who wants to be identified as Vincent, said that at family gatherings, she would either distance herself from other relatives or keep on talking about her health conditions. 

“We tried traditional and modern medicines but nothing worked. Eventually after undergoing tests at the hospital, she was diagnosed with depression and given treatment,” he said. 

Consultant physician-geriatrician at Jesselton Medical Centre Dr Richard Ng, said the prevalence of depression among senior citizens is at 10 per cent. 

However, the prevalence is at 20 per cent among those living in old folks home. “The number of cases of depression among the elderly is growing, but many are undiagnosed or not reported. 

The elderly are unlikely to tell people they are depressed,” he said. It is more challenging to diagnose depression in elderly patients as they do not show the classic low mood symptoms. 

As such, it is important to thoroughly assess them for any medical problem. 

“Warning signs of depression among senior citizens are waking up frequently at night, sleeping too much even up to 12 hours a day, lost of interest in daily activities and multiple physical complaints despite medical investigations,” he said. 

Among the many problems that the elderly deal with which may lead to depression are fear of death, loss of a spouse/friend and loneliness. 

Lack of attention or activity reduces mental stimulation and this too can contribute to anxiety and depression. 

Because of this, Dr Ng said the suicidal rate among senior citizens suffering from depression is increasing. 

“An elderly person who is at home alone may experience anxiety while waiting for family members to return home. 

It is not a good feeling to wonder what will happen or when family members are too busy at work to talk to them,” he said. 

“Some patients have refused to seek treatment as they are in denial or do not want to be thought of as crazy. They need to see a geriatrician who can help diagnose their mental health.” 

Treatment for depression in the elderly includes pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. The choice of antidepressants takes into consideration the patient’s age so as to minimise possible adverse effects. 

The medication will increase serotonin level in the brain responsible for improving one’s mood or reducing recurrences of negative thoughts. 

Psychotherapy helps patients to identify their negative thoughts or emotions and to replace these with positive thinking. Sometimes, psychotherapy is performed in groups so that it is more effective.

Related links
1. Meeting the needs of elderly