• 목록
• 답변
• 글쓰기
• 게시판 리스트 옵션
  • 수정
  • 삭제

Depression Treatment For Elderly People

Depression in older people can affect their health and increase the chance of dying. It is essential for them to visit their doctor and ensure they receive the correct treatment.

A number of factors can make it difficult to identify depression in older adults. One of them is the mistake of identifying depression symptoms as a sign of aging, or hiding them by coexisting medical conditions, lack of support from others, and stigma.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are often the first step in treatment for many cases. These medications increase neurotransmitters in the brain, which can aid in improving mood and reducing depression symptoms. These drugs are usually utilized in combination with psychotherapy. It can take a few weeks before they begin working and it is essential to follow the exact dosage instructed.

It is crucial to check elderly patients with depression for co-morbidities, and treat them appropriately. Numerous medical conditions like strokes, heart disease and chronic pain can trigger depression in older patients. They could also be more susceptible to side effects of some medication.

The stigma of aging prevents people from seeking medical assistance for their emotional problems. Depression symptoms can be confused with other illnesses such as pain or eating problems caused by dentures. These symptoms are exacerbated by the lack of social support and it can be difficult to communicate with family members.

Older adults are more likely to develop vascular depression, which is caused by an increase in the flow of blood to the brain. Compared to other forms of depression, vascular depression is associated with a more severe cognitive impairment and a poorer response to treatments. Fortunately, this type of depression can be treated with various medications, including SSRIs, SNRIs and TCAs.

The medications used to treat perimenopause depression treatment among older patients should be adapted to the patient's needs, because they are more susceptible to adverse reactions. Doctors should begin with lower doses, and then increase them gradually to be aware of the pharmacokinetic changes associated with age. They should also think about the impact of other medications and supplements on the patient's response to antidepressants.

It is important that doctors educate patients and their family members on the signs of depression and natural treatment for anxiety and depression options. This will assist patients to understand their condition and stick to their medication regimen. It is also important to inform patients know about the time lag for antidepressant effects.

A detailed history is vital for evaluating depression among the elderly. It should include details about the date of the onset, its relationship with other life stressors and previous episodes of depression. It is essential to determine if depression symptoms are the result of medication or other health conditions like menopausal and seasonal affective disorder.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

ECT helps to reset the brain to lessen depression symptoms. It is usually prescribed to people who are not responding to medication or have severe and life-threatening depression for example, those with suicidal thoughts or medical conditions that are dangerous. A majority of insurance companies and Medicare will cover ECT. It's usually given in a hospital setting. The patient will receive general sedation and won't feel a thing during the treatment. Six ECT treatments may be required to treat depression.

It is possible to experience confusion for several hours or even days after the procedure. It is also possible to forget things during or right after ECT. These issues tend to be temporary. It could take several weeks to begin recalling. If you have a history of heart disease, you could be more susceptible to complications resulting from ECT. People with preexisting cardiac ailments should stay away from ECT unless it's advised by a doctor.

A recent study has compared the incidence of cardiac complications during ECT in patients without and with any heart disease pre-existing. Researchers found that the rate of complications was significantly higher for the group with preexisting heart disease. Researchers suggested that a reduction in the use of ECT for patients who are elderly and have heart issues could reduce rate of complications.

ECT is effective in a variety of depressive disorders. These include bipolar and unipolar depression as well as mania. It can also treat other mental health issues, such as schizophrenia with psychosis caused by antiparkinsonian drugs. It can also be used to treat dementia that is severe particularly when it's caused by a life-threatening condition.

Your doctor and you must conduct a thorough psychiatric assessment prior to receiving ECT. Your doctor should also look over your medical records to see whether you have any other medical issues which could impact your response to the treatment. Your doctor might suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram, or chest X-ray prior to receiving ECT if you have an issue with your cardiac system.

Psychotherapy

Depression in older adults can be challenging to diagnose and manage. The stigma associated with mental illness can make it difficult for older people to admit they are depressed. They may also be too proud to seek help, and may be afraid of being a burden to their families. Depression can also increase a person's heart disease risk and make it more difficult to recover from other illnesses. Psychotherapy is an effective holistic treatment for depression for situational depression treatment in older people.

Depression is a prevalent disorder for the elderly, but many of them are not diagnosed or treated. This is due to a variety of reasons such as misdiagnosis or inadvertent ignorance by health professionals. Patients may be suffering from symptoms such as apathy, lack of interest in daily activities, sleep disorders, and frequent thoughts of death. These symptoms are usually attributed to aging and dementia however, they are usually caused by depression.

A thorough evaluation should include an extensive background, a review of the patient's response to previous treatments as well as laboratory tests. A minimum battery of tests should include a haemogram aswell kidney function tests, liver function tests, and urine analysis. In the case of an underlying nutritional deficiency, various investigations like thyroid function tests, folate and vitamin B12 levels, should be performed.

The acute phase of treatment of depression should be focused on achieving the goal of remission. Treatment must be tailored to the needs of the patient. When combined with antidepressant medicines and a psychotherapy program, a psychotherapy program is recommended. The psychotherapy can be short-term or it may be long-term. It could focus on addressing the underlying behavior and cognition, or it may involve understanding and changing deep-rooted emotional and relational issues.

In the continuation and maintenance phase the same antidepressant must be employed as in the acute phase. This is done while keeping track of remission rates and relapse rate. A careful monitoring of the relapse rate is also crucial for patients who are older as they have a higher tendency to relapse compared to younger patients.

Social Support

Social support is an essential component of mental health. People who have strong social networks have a lower risk of depression and are more adept at coping with stress. It is also essential for maintaining an immune system that is healthy. This is particularly applicable to older adults, who have higher levels of stress and fewer healthy coping mechanisms. This is likely to be the reason that older adults require more social support than younger people.

In fact, the lack of family and social support is associated with poor health outcomes for older adults. Social support can help lessen 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. It is therefore important to recognize and fix any issues that arise in this area to improve a patient's quality of life.

A healthcare provider can offer social support in a variety of ways to an elderly person suffering from depression. Psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and electroconvulsive treatment resistant bipolar depression are just a few options. In addition to improving mood these treatments can also improve function and increase independence. The quality of care a patient receives will determine the level of their recovery.

Social support can be described as support for the emotional and instrumental, as well as the feeling of belonging and a sense of community. Support for emotions includes the ability to speak with others about problems and emotions, instrumental support is the capacity to receive help with tasks and informational support is the ability to get guidance from a trusted source.

There are several types of social support available in Vietnam, including immediate family members friends, neighbors, and professional helpers. In the case of the treatment of psychiatric disorders, social support has been proven to enhance the quality of life of geriatric patients, and also reduce mortality and morbidity due to suicide and other medical conditions. This is in turn linked with lower costs for psychiatric treatment and health care. This is a huge benefit for both the public and private healthcare system.