Depression in old age: causes, detection, therapy and advice

Old age is a stage of human development fraught with new formations and crises that many people have difficulties in coping with. Old age is associated in our culture as the stage of progressive decline in cognitive ability, as well as the period in which the cessation of the Laboral life.

Also this vital stage is linked to the progressive deterioration of the family role, because in some cases, the elderly may decide to move away from their homes. close to places where they can retreat to rest, meditate or live pending some task that please.

Depression in old age

Likewise, old age is usually a stage of emotional difficulties since changes not only occur in the social, work or family, but also some chronic diseases are appearing such as migraines, muscle pain, rheumatism, loss of sight and hearing. The psychological disorders and in the mental faculties they are evidenced in many cases, with pictures of dementia, anxiety attacks Y depression.

Precisely, one of the affective disorders that most frequently appear in old age is

depression. WHO states that more than one 20% of people over the age of 60 suffer from some type of depression, a figure that in the next 5 years will increase according to different studies. Depression in old age is, therefore, a psychological disorder that mobilizes the efforts of the scientific community to try to decrease the rate of affected people.

Theories about the elderly: detecting the factors of depression in old age

The Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Development Theory (1975) poses the stage of old age as the crisis stage between integrity of self and the despair, which accounts for the need to positively influence the psychological health of the elderly so that they can face their time with the greatest well-being.

Many people conceive of old age as a limiting stage and degradation because it is no longer possible to carry out the same activities that were done before, adding this factor to the loneliness caused by the death of beings dear ones, precarious economic levels, lack of activity and isolation are some of the triggers that can cause depression in the third age.

The nursing homes or nursing homes each year receive dozens of older adults who are victims of depression, this being the second most prevalent disorder after dementia. Although the vast majority of relatives tend to understand that residences will be able to offer you a better medical and psychological monitoring of his elder, few are those who are next to the grandfather in this stage.

Old age means adapting to new changes, to a new lifestyle. It is the total consummation of the experiences learned in the course of human walking, a source of knowledge and also a stage of experiences and yearning for the years that remained in the past, and it is for that reason that when talking about depression in old age we must bear in mind that we should not confuse one's own symptoms with states of sadness and melancholy, which are mostly mild and temporary and are very common in this cycle. Not so, depression is a disorder that has a long duration and symptoms that indicate that there is an underlying disease that must be treated.

Clinic of depression in old age

Depression at this stage can appear covertly, as indicated by Morice Caballero (2000), stating:

"Depression usually appears in the guise of a paranoid picture or is hidden in insomnia, pain, or other symptoms that are difficult to integrate into a nosological picture."

For an exact diagnosis, it should be carried out by integrating a medical, neurological and psychological evaluation. The first helps us to confirm or rule out any type of abnormality that may exist and that influences the mood of the adult major, the second, to delve into the field of the nervous system in order to rule out any alteration in the brain regions, or dementia.

The psychological intervention it will depend on the context in which the therapy should be developed. At times, the work will become difficult due to how complicated it can be to handle these types of cases and the slowness in achieving results. Many professionals agree that, more than a specialty of psychology, psychogerontology is an act of service that does not all mental health professionals are trained to perform, due to the difficulty involved and the exceptionality of each case.

How to help and intervene an older adult with depression?

a) Each person is different and as such you have to be prepared for any peculiarity that may require help for an older person with depression. It should be remembered that at this stage it is common for patients to refuse to follow any type of treatment, be it medical or psychological. In these cases, it is best to patiently advise him to follow some type of treatment, and accompany him during it with the help of a family member.

b) Help keep appointments with the psychologist in mind and, if drug therapy has been recommended (which in most cases is necessary), be vigilant on the days when it is necessary for the elderly to take their medications.

c) Do activities that are pleasant, such as going for a walk, reading a book, listening to music, etc. The important thing is to keep your mind working with activities that are helpful and learning in order to preserve your cognitive and physical abilities.

Old age is a cycle that we will all have to go through, with which we must be prepared to know how to cope in the healthiest way. Old age should not be a time of uncertainty and deterioration, but rather a stage that the person can carry out in contact with his family, his friends and his daily life.

Bibliographic references:

• Erikson, E.H. (1975). Life History and the Historical Moment. New York: Norton.
• Morice Caballero, M.L. (2000). Practical topics in Geriatrics and Gerontology. Volume I