Identifying Symptoms of Depression

It can be a difficult task to identify symptoms of depression in the elderly:

• Many depressed people do not seek help.
• Physicians and family members often misread the symptoms of depression as a natural reaction to aging. For example, they may express the sentiment, "Who wouldn’t be depressed if …" when an older person is struggling with chronic pain, illness, and loss. Unlike normal feelings association with sadness and loss, however depression is not temporary, it doesn't go away by itself, and it can last for months.
• Older individuals without adequate health insurance worry that treatment will be too costly.
• Symptoms of depression, such as sleep difficulties, weight loss, and fatigue, can be a byproduct of a other physical ailments, such as thyroid or heart disease.
• Depression sometimes mimics the early stages of dementia, a nonreversible decline in intellectual ability. However, while depression can contribute to temporary confusion and forgetfulness, dementia typically progresses and becomes worse over time. While depression can accompany dementia, the symptoms are often overlooked or attributed to the dementia.
• Seniors with depression often do not complain about their symptoms. In particular, they do not acknowledge or openly show severe feelings of sadness.

However, you may notice signs that depression may be present. It is important to note that symptoms in older persons often differ somewhat from symptoms in other age groups. Some general clues that an elder may have depression include:

• Chronic physical complains about pain, dizziness, insomnia and weakness that cannot be traced to a physical cause.
• Persistent and vague complaints about life in general.
• Talk of being a burden or a bother.
• Withdrawing socially, giving up hobbies, and decreasing activity.
• The onset or worsening of abuse of alcohol or prescription medication.
• Frequent help seeking, phone calling, and demanding behavior xi.

Once you have identified the symptoms of depression, it is important that the individual see a physician or qualified mental health professional to obtain a diagnosis.