......................................................................................
Thanks
to the National Institute of Mental Health
for the following information.
Depression - 5
Depression in the
Elderly
Some people have the mistaken idea that it is normal for the elderly to
feel depressed. On the contrary, most older people feel satisfied with
their lives. Sometimes, though, when depression develops, it may be
dismissed as a normal part of aging. Depression in the elderly,
undiagnosed and untreated, causes needless suffering for the family and
for the individual who could otherwise live a fruitful life. When he or
she does go to the doctor, the symptoms described are usually physical,
for the older person is often reluctant to discuss feelings of
hopelessness, sadness, loss of interest in normally pleasurable
activities, or extremely prolonged grief after a loss.
Recognizing how
depressive symptoms in older people are often missed, many health care
professionals are learning to identify and treat the underlying
depression. They recognize that some symptoms may be side effects of
medication the older person is taking for a physical problem, or they may
be caused by a co-occurring illness. If a diagnosis of depression is made,
treatment with medication and/or psychotherapy will help the depressed
person return to a happier, more fulfilling life. Recent research suggests
that brief psychotherapy (talk therapies that help a person in day-to-day
relationships or in learning to counter the distorted negative thinking
that commonly accompanies depression) is effective in reducing symptoms in
short-term depression in older persons who are medically ill.
Psychotherapy is also useful in older patients who cannot or will not take
medication. Efficacy studies show that late-life depression can be treated
with psychotherapy.4
Improved recognition and treatment of depression in late life will make
those years more enjoyable and fulfilling for the depressed elderly
person, the family, and caretakers.
Depression in
Children
Only in the past two decades has depression in children been taken very
seriously. The depressed child may pretend to be sick, refuse to go to
school, cling to a parent, or worry that the parent may die.
Older children may sulk,
get into trouble at school, be negative, grouchy, and feel misunderstood.
Because normal behaviors vary from one childhood stage to another, it can
be difficult to tell whether a child is just going through a temporary
"phase" or is suffering from depression. Sometimes the parents become
worried about how the child's behavior has changed, or a teacher mentions
that "your child doesn't seem to be himself." In such a case, if a visit
to the child's pediatrician rules out physical symptoms, the doctor will
probably suggest that the child be evaluated, preferably by a psychiatrist
who specializes in the treatment of children. If treatment is needed, the
doctor may suggest that another therapist, usually a social worker or a
psychologist, provide therapy while the psychiatrist will oversee
medication if it is needed. Parents should not be afraid to ask questions:
What are the therapist's qualifications? What kind of therapy will the
child have? Will the family as a whole participate in therapy? Will my
child's therapy include an antidepressant? If so, what might the side
effects be?
The National Institute of
Mental Health (NIMH) has identified the use of medications for depression
in children as an important area for research. The NIMH-supported Research
Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology (RUPPs) form a network of seven
research sites where clinical studies on the effects of medications for
mental disorders can be conducted in children and adolescents. Among the
medications being studied are antidepressants, some of which have been
found to be effective in treating children with depression, if properly
monitored by the child's physician.
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