“What is the difference between everyday and geriatric depression?”
I believe my mother who is 76 has geriatric depression. What is the difference?
5 Answers
Geriatric depression may be accompanied with no spouse, chronic illness, irrational thinking, chronic substance abuse etc.
The answer to this question in not so easy, because it is not clear what is "everyday depression" means. So called "everyday depression" could be at any age, including seniors. Nevertheless, major depressive disorder is a whole body illness, which affects people with different age group differently. The treatment depends on the age, muscles and brain reserves and others.
In seniors, there are more medical problems (hypertension, cardiac problems, high cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis and others), which compromise brain blood flow and decrease energy production in the brain cells and whole body. Additionally, pain in the joints and muscles contribute to physical immobility and hypodynamia, which decrease a number of working receptors (touch, proprioception) and decrease a brain blood flow as well. This depression in seniors is names as a "vascular depression". and is required a combination of medications with non pharmacological interventions (vitamins, supplement, breathing, mild physical activities and many more). The readers could find recommendations about fighting depression in seniors on Google and in my book.
In seniors, there are more medical problems (hypertension, cardiac problems, high cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis and others), which compromise brain blood flow and decrease energy production in the brain cells and whole body. Additionally, pain in the joints and muscles contribute to physical immobility and hypodynamia, which decrease a number of working receptors (touch, proprioception) and decrease a brain blood flow as well. This depression in seniors is names as a "vascular depression". and is required a combination of medications with non pharmacological interventions (vitamins, supplement, breathing, mild physical activities and many more). The readers could find recommendations about fighting depression in seniors on Google and in my book.
There isn't much difference and Basically the diagnostic criteria is essentially the same for MDD at every age. In geriatric patients it often becomes more complicated due to Co-morbid illnesses and decreased Resiliency and Neuroplasticity. However, depression in elderly more of a melancholic type with increased cognitive/memory difficulties and tendency to be isolated.
The primary difference may be the source of the depression. Elderly depression is frequently noticed as being associated with dementia.
Take a look at this link.
https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/elderly
https://consultgeri.org/try-this/general-assessment/issue-4.pdf
Also, for general depression take a look at:
http://dailyhealthlifestyles.com/9-5-2016-11-early-signs-of-depression/?utm_source=depression&utm_medium=depressionsigns&utm_campaign=bing
https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/elderly
https://consultgeri.org/try-this/general-assessment/issue-4.pdf
Also, for general depression take a look at:
http://dailyhealthlifestyles.com/9-5-2016-11-early-signs-of-depression/?utm_source=depression&utm_medium=depressionsigns&utm_campaign=bing
