Introduction

Contributing Factors

Identifying Symptoms of Depression

Treatment

“Real” Intersection of Systems

Action Ideas That Work

Resource Links

Resource Pages

References

Contributing Factors

Many factors are thought to contribute to the development of depression. These can be psychological, biological, environmental and/or genetic in nature. For instance, depression tends to run in families, and for those individuals, the disease can be triggered by stress, bereavement, or a major life change. For others, depression is caused by the medication they are taking. Still, others develop depression for unknown reasons. Factors commonly known to contribute to depression in the elderly include viii:

Long-term illnesses common in later life, such as stroke, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and arthritis

• Hearing loss
• Presence of chronic or severe pain
• Being female and unmarried (especially if widowed)
• Stressful life events
• Recent bereavement
• Lack of a supportive social network and isolation
• Delayed recovery from major illnesses, especially those that lead to dependency
• Fear of death
• Previous episodes of depression or family history of depression
• Past suicide attempt(s)
• Substance abuse

Medication can also influence the likelihood of depression. While all medicines have side effects, the American Academy of Family Physicians recognizes that the following medicines can cause or worsen symptoms of depression ix:

In addition, mood can be affected by the changing seasons. Some people suffer from symptoms of depression during the winter months, with symptoms subsiding during the spring and summer months. This may be a sign of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a mood disorder related to seasonal variations in daylight x.

While there is no known way to effectively prevent depression, contributing factors play a major role in diagnosing the illness early on. Social supports are perhaps the most important to reduce the isolation and loneliness that contribute to depression. These supports can help individuals deal with the wide variety of losses, grief, mobility challenges, and illness experienced as individuals age. Depending on the health and mobility of the individual, these social supports can include group outings through a local senior center or parish, volunteer work, or home visits from concerned parishioners, congregational nurses, and pastoral ministers.