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Depression Treatment For Elderly People Depression in people who are older can cause a worsening of their health conditions and a higher risk of death. It is important for them to visit their doctor and make sure they are getting the right treatment. A number of factors can make it difficult to diagnose depression in older adults. These include misidentifying depression symptoms as a normal aspect of the aging process or obscuring them by claiming they are co-existing medical illnesses, lack of social support, and stigma. Antidepressants Antidepressants are usually the first step of treatment in many cases. These medications boost neurotransmitters within the brain, which may aid in improving mood and reducing depression symptoms. They are typically employed in conjunction with psychotherapy. It could take several weeks before they start to take effect. Patients with depression who are elderly should be evaluated for other co-morbidities and treated appropriately. Many medical conditions such as strokes, heart disease, and chronic pain can lead to depression in older patients. They could also be more susceptible to the side effects of some medications. Stigma prevents elderly people from seeking medical attention for emotional issues. Depression symptoms are often confused with other ailments such as eating or pain issues caused by dentures. These symptoms can be made worse by the lack of social support and are difficult to communicate, especially with family members. Seniors are more likely to experience vascular depression, caused by an increase in blood flow to the brain. Compared to other forms of depression, vascular depression is associated with more severe cognitive impairment, as well as a poorer response to treatments. Fortunately, this type of depression is treatable with many medications, such as SSRIs SNRIs and TCAs. The medication used to treat depression in older patients must be individualized because they are more susceptible to adverse reactions. Doctors should begin with lower doses, and then titrate them up gradually to take into account pharmacokinetic variations due to age. They should also take into account the effect other supplements and medications can have on the patient's reactions to antidepressants. It is crucial 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 inform them know the lag time for antidepressant effects. A detailed history is vital for evaluating depression among the elderly. This should include the time when depression first began to manifest and its connection to other stressors in the life, previous episodes of depression, and any underlying medical or physical illness. It is important to determine if the symptoms of depression are the result of medication or other health conditions like menopausal and seasonal affective disorder. Electroconvulsive Therapy Electroconvulsive therapy, commonly referred to as ECT is a method of helping the brain do a kind of reset that helps reduce depression symptoms. It's usually used in people who don't respond to medication or whose depression is severe and life threatening for instance, a person who is suicidal or suffers from an underlying medical condition that could be dangerous. Medicare and a majority of insurance companies will cover ECT. It is usually performed in the hospital setting. You'll be given an all-encompassing sedative and will not feel a thing during the treatment. It can take six ECT treatments to improve your depression. There is a possibility of experiencing confusion for a few days or even hours after the treatment. It is possible to lose things after or during ECT. These problems tend to be temporary. It may take some time to begin recalling. You could be more vulnerable to complications caused by ECT in the event of a cardiac history. Patients with preexisting heart conditions should avoid ECT unless it's recommended by your doctor. A recent study looked at the risk of complications to the heart during ECT in patients without and with existing heart disease. Researchers found that the frequency of complications was significantly higher in the group with an existing heart condition. Researchers suggested that a reduction in the use of ECT in patients who are elderly and have heart conditions could reduce complication rates. ECT is effective for a range of depressive disorders, including unipolar bipolar and mania. It can also be used to treat other mental health issues such as schizophrenia that has catatonic features and psychosis induced by antiparkinsonian medication. It can also be used to treat dementia that is severe particularly when it is caused by a serious illness. If you're thinking of ECT or ECT, you and your doctor should do a thorough psychiatric evaluation prior to undergoing the procedure. Your doctor should also review your medical records to determine whether you have any other medical conditions that can affect your response to the treatment. If you suffer from heart disease, your doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram (EKG) or chest X-rays prior to receiving ECT. Psychotherapy Depression in elderly can be difficult to diagnose and treat. People who are older typically have a difficult time admitting that they are depressed because of the stigma that comes with mental illness. They might be embarrassed to seek help, and may be afraid of being a burden on their families. Depression also increases an older person's risk of developing heart disease and can make it harder to recover from other illnesses. Psychotherapy can be a successful treatment option for depression in elderly people. Depression is a very common condition for people over the age of. However, many of those suffering from depression are not treated or are not diagnosed. This could be due to many reasons, including misdiagnosis or lack of awareness on the part of healthcare professionals. Patients who are older may experience symptoms such as apathy, loss of interest in everyday activities, sleep disturbances or recurrent thoughts of death. These symptoms are often blamed on aging and dementia however, they are usually caused by depression. A thorough examination should include an exhaustive history, a review of the patient's response to previous treatments as well as laboratory tests. A complete battery should comprise haemograms, liver function tests, renal function tests and urine analysis. In the case of a possible nutritional deficit, a variety of tests like thyroid function tests, folate and vitamin B12 levels, must be carried out. The acute phase of treatment of depression should be focused on achieving Remission and should be tailored to the needs of the patient. A psychotherapy program must be utilized in conjunction with antidepressant medications. This psychotherapy can be either short-term or long-term. It could focus on addressing the underlying behavior and cognition, or it could involve learning to understand and change deeply-rooted emotional and relationship issues. In the continuation and maintenance phase, the same antidepressant should be employed as in the acute phase. This should be done with careful monitoring of rate of remission and relapse. It is essential to track the relapse rates of older patients, as they are more likely to have a relapse. Social support Social support is a vital aspect of mental health. People with strong social networks are less at risk of risk of depression and are better able to handle stress. It is also essential to maintain an energised immune system. This is particularly relevant for older adults, who have higher levels of stress and fewer healthy strategies for coping. This could be the reason why older adults require more social support than younger people. In reality, the absence of social and family support is linked to poor health outcomes for older adults. It has been shown that social support can help to mitigate the negative effects of life events, such as the loss of a loved one, or a major illness. It can also have a positive effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex (HPA) and noradrenergic systems. To improve the quality of life for patients, it is important to identify any issues in this region and address these. A healthcare professional can provide social support in many ways to an older person who is depressed. These include psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy electroconvulsive therapy, as well as transcranial magnetic stimulation. These treatments can improve the quality of life and mood, as well as increase independence. However the quality of care a patient receives is the most important factor in his or her recovery. Social support is defined as emotional support and instrumental support, as well as a sense belonging and community. Support for emotional well-being can be defined as the capability of a person to express their feelings and issues to others. innovative depression treatment refers to receiving help with tasks. Informational support involves obtaining guidance from a trustworthy source. There are many types of social support in Vietnam which include immediate family members neighbors, friends, and professional aids. In the case of the treatment of psychiatric disorders social support has been proven to improve the quality of life of elderly patients, and also reduce mortality and morbidity from suicide and other medical conditions. This is in turn linked with reduced costs for psychiatric services and health treatment. This is an important benefit for both the public and private health systems.