Late-life depression is a depressive disorder that occurs in older people aged 60 years and over. It is divid into two types: depression that occurs before old age. And depression that occurs during old age. Depression in the elderly is in up to 10-20% of the population, and most are women more than men. In particular, those who are divorce, live alone. Or have lost a loved one are at higher risk of this condition.
Changes that occur during old age are often the cause of depression in the elderly. Common causes include:
- Having less money or assets
- Retirement or discontinuation of regular employment
- Death of a spouse or friend of the same age
- Health problems such as stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, dementia, chronic pain
And if the elderly have these risk factors, they are more likely to develop depression.
Depression in the elderly can be just a minor headache for people around them or family members, to the point of causing the patient to die เล่นบาคาร่า UFABET เว็บตรง ค่าคอมสูง. People with depression often do not care about themselves, eat little or not at all, are bored with life, do not sleep, do not exercise, do not do activities, and do not take prescribed medication. Which causes their nutritional status and physical strength to decrease.
Other underlying diseases will be more difficult to control. If they are not care for, the emotional state of the elderly may continue to worsen for a long time until they develop dementia. Or it may become severe depression until the patient chooses to end their own life.
Although suicide in the elderly does not happen often, when they decide to do it, they usually choose violent methods and are mostly successful. If the elderly have initial symptoms of depression, those close to them should quickly take them to see a doctor for timely treatment.
Psychotherapy or talk therapy can help change the way of thinking or behavior of the elderly with depression, allowing them to cope with depression better. Psychotherapy is as effective as antidepressants. Some elderly people who already take other medications prefer to treat
depression with psychotherapy alone, so that they do not have to take additional medication. If the depression is severe, medication or medication combined with psychotherapy may be more effective.