Geriatric Depression
6 important questions on Geriatric Depression
Why does Late Life depression carries worse prognosis than early onset?
alongside with cognitive impairment and mortality
What are the key differences between late onset depression and early onset depression?
Less commonly mood symptoms
Complaint of tiredness is common
More somatic symptoms and tend to be hospitazlied
Subsyndromal depressive symptoms in Older Adult
2. Exacerbation of GI symptom/arthritic pain
3. Preoccupation with health
4. Cardiovascular symptoms
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Relationship between Depression and Dementia
• Depression as a PRODROME of Dementia
• Depression is a RISK FACTOR for dementia •
Depression mimicking dementia/ Cognitive Impairment (PSEUDODEMENTIA) as a feature of depression
Organic cause of Depression in Older Adult
Infection - post viral, neurosyphilis
Metabolic cause - hypothyroidism, Cushing's Disease
Occult Carcinoma - of the lungs/pancrease
Organic brain disease - SOL, Dementia
Drugs - Steroids, Beta blockers, Methyldopa
Risk factor of suicide in Older Adult depression
- Male Gender:
- Physical Illness & Chronic Pain:
- Sensory Impairment:
- Substance Misuse:
- The "Depressive Triple Threat":
- Hopelessness:
- Hopelessness:
- Helplessness:
- Worthlessness.
- Worthlessness.
- Personality Traits: A history of "neuroticism"
- History of Prior Attempts
3. Social Factors
- Social Isolation & Loneliness:
- Financial Insecurity: .
- Access to Lethal Means:
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