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DEPRESSION & SUICIDE OF ELDERLY.   Term Paper ID:19260 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Definitions, causes (ageism, physical problems, sexuality, isolation), treatment.... More...

6 Pages / 1350 Words 11 sources, 20 Citations, APA Format $24.00 Return to List of Papers

Paper Abstract: Definitions, causes (ageism, physical problems, sexuality, isolation), treatment. Paper Introduction: Introduction The purpose of this paper is to examine the literature on depression and suicide in elderly populations. To this end, the review defines depression and discusses contributive factors that can lead to suicide. Incidence rates are reported and treatment interventions are discussed. Depression and Suicide in Elderly Populations Dworetzky (1985) defines depression as: A feeling of sadness and sometimes total apathy. Guilt or inability to cope with problems, frustrations, or conflict is often behind depression. It may be influenced by chemical imbalances in the brain as well. (p.470) In DSM III (1980), the American Psychiatric Association Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. Cooper, J.W. Specifically, there can beintergenerational conflict and friction that can sometimes be characterizedby such high levels of hostility that older people are actually physicallyabused by their relatives (Cohen, 198 ). It was stated that avariety of problems lead to depression in older populations. Kalish (1975) reports one woman saying: I am a prisoner of my body. George, L.K., Blazer, D.G., Hughes, D.C. According to George, Blazer, Hughesand Fowler (1989), two critical factors in working with the depressed ingeneral and the depressed elderly in particular are: (1) social supportnetworks of depressed patients; and (2) depressed patients' subjectiveperception of the quality of support obtained from their networks. Rogers (1982) points out that treatment of depression in olderpopulations is most effective when the condition is diagnosed early andtherapy is immediate. Sloane (Eds.), Handbook of mental health and aging.Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 971993. (1988). Cohen, G.D. The point wasmade that the incidents of depression and suicide are high among olderpeople; statistics were provided but the point was made that such estimatesare, at best, speculative due to factors such as a masking of depressionsymptoms by other variables such as physical illness. Lack of recognition and treatment of activeproblems in geriatric nursing home patients. Dworetzky, J.P. . Late adulthood: Perspectives on humandevelopment. (198 ). (p.12) Problems with interpersonal relationships can also lead to depressionand suicide in older populations. To this end, the review definesdepression and discusses contributive factors that can lead to suicide.Incidence rates are reported and treatment interventions are discussed. For example, Kalish points out that ten times as many olderpeople as younger ones are unable to read newsprint. However, she points out that statistics ondepression among elderly populations can be misleading because symptoms areoften masked by such factors as physical illness or malnutrition.Moreover, she states that often what appear to be symptoms of depressionare not symptoms of depression at all but rather symptoms of organic braindisorders which affect about 4 percent of the elderly population. However, an expansion of social support networks must also be accompaniedby the depressed patient's belief that the quality of support received frommembers of his or her social network is high. Prospects for mental health and aging. . As she puts it: . one of these is ageism. (198 ). Also, there can be marriage problems that lead to depression (Rogers,1982) as well as depression associated with the failing and fading ofsexual response (Cleveland, 1976). & Robertson, J.F. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole. (1978). British Journal of Psychiatry, 154, 478-485. When depression intensifies among older populations (or any otherpopulation), it can often lead to suicide. Journal ofMarriage and the Family, 4 (2), 367-375.----------------------- 9 Older people are hit harder by high inflation and soaring living costs than younger groups. Cleveland, M. over three million people over age 65 many older live below the poverty level..... Psychology (2nd ed.) St. Kalish (1975) asserts that the various problems experienced byelderly populations combine to produce a deep sense of isolation andloneliness and that it is this feeling that underlies most cases ofdepression and suicide in older populations. According to Rogers (1982), depression is the number-one mentaldisorder among older people. She states that among these populations, evenordinary events such as the loss of teeth and the need to eat with denturescan be traumatic and recommends some form of ongoing therapy which workswith the older person as such situations come up. Perhaps the best statistics on incidence of depression among elderlypopulations are those collected at the institutional level because at thislevel it is easier to rule out those whose symptoms are due to illness andthose whose symptoms are, in fact, non-illness related depression. .. It was statedthat it is this feeling of isolation which, if unchecked, can lead thedepressed older person to suicide. In addition, depression can increase tothe extent that social relationships dwindle (Wood and Robertson, 1978).Conversely, depression can decrease to the extent that older people formnew relationships, especially with people of their own age (Kalish, 1975). The paper also discussed treatment ofthe depressed elderly, emphasizing the need for immediate diagnosis andpsychological service delivery as well as for an expansion of both thepatient's social network and improvement of his/her attitude toward thequality of support offered by this network. (1976). Further, older people experience a high incidence of physicaldisorders. Factors Leading To Depression and Suicide Among The Elderly Thereare a host of factors that contribute to depression and suicide among theelderly. Kalish (1975) also reports that the elderly can become despondentover age-related limitations such as failing sensor, motor, and mentalcapacities. (1982). Martin's Press. Specifically, the authors found that if older people can be made toexpand (increase the number of people) in their social support network,this does much to decrease the sense of isolation engendered by theirvarious problems. Personaladjustment and growth: A life-span approach. Summary This paper examined depression in elderly populations. (1975). Diagnostic and statisticalmanual of mental disorders. Social support and the outcome of major depression. Introduction The purpose of this paper is to examine the literature on depressionand suicide in elderly populations. References American Psychiatric Association. NY: St. Barocas, H., Reichman, W. Theseproblems were delineated and it was pointed out that in combination, thevarious problems produce aaoverwhelming sense of isolation. Indeed,the authors note that suicide is highest between the ages of 75 and 84 thanat any other point in the lifespan. Also, three-fourths of all cancer patients are peopleover the age of 65. Guilt or inability to cope with problems, frustrations, or conflict is often behind depression. It's not really me with arthritis, withsagging breasts and loose skin--it's someone else. many older people with low incomes have just enough money to disqualify them from receiving Medicaid (p.337-338). Further, they becomeincreasingly impaired in motor activities due to conditions such asarthritis, general weakness, and so forth. According to Rogers (1982), about 15 to 45 percent of peopleover 65 experience problems related to rheumatism, orthopedic impairmentand heart disease. According to Barocas, Reichmanand Schwebel (1982), depression followed by suicide is more likely to occurbetween the ages of 75 and 84 years (where there are 22 deaths due tosuicide for every 1 , elderly people) than at ages over 85 (where thereare 18 deaths due to suicide for every 1 , elderly people). Related to the problem of aging and physical health is the fact thatbody changes associated with old age mean that people have to adjust to anew, often enfeebled self-image. As this sense of isolation lifts, depression is reduced. According to Butler (1975), ageism coversa broad range of negative attitudes and actions toward the elderlyincluding: . (1985). Butler, R.N. (p.58) Rogers (1982) also points out that financial problems can severelyaffect the mental health of older people. outright disdain and dislike, or simply subtle avoidance of contact; discriminatory practices in housing, employment, and services of all kinds: epithets, cartoons, and jokes. . In this way, thoseevents which would deflate their spirits over time can be dealt with in animmediate fashion and the chance that they will build to the point wheresuicide is likely is decreased. Nursing Homes, 37, 5-9. Treatment Lifting the depression of older people is the key factor in reducingsuicide among the elderly population. (p.47 ) In DSM III (198 ), the American Psychiatric Association provides amore technical definition of the disorder noting that it is characterizedby at least four of the following symptoms: (1) a loss of interest orpleasure in life and general withdrawal; (2) appetite disturbances usuallyleading to weight loss; (3) sleep disturbances; (4) psychomotordisturbances; (5) decreases in energy level; (6) a sense of unworthiness;(7) difficulty in concentrating; and (8) a number of subsidiary symptomssuch as anxiety, phobia, hypochondriasis, tearfulness and irritability. Figures showed a staggering 6 percent of the people to be moderately to severely depressed. Depression and Suicide in Elderly Populations Dworetzky (1985) defines depression as: A feeling of sadness and sometimes total apathy. The adult years:-An introduction to aging (2nded.) Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. (1983). Also, there can bethe death of a spouse which brings about an especially intense form ofisolation. the financial plight of many older people is worse than that of younger adults. [and]. It may be influenced by chemical imbalances in the brain as well. Paul: WestPublishing. Rogers, D. Wood, V. & Schwebel, A.I. FamilyCoordinator, 25(3), 233-24 . (3rd ed.) Washington, D.C.: AmericanPsychiatric Association. In onesuch study, Cooper (198 ) examined for the frequency of depression amongthe elderly living in nursing homes. Adding to the sense ofisolation produced by such factors as physical illness, financial worries,and interpersonal problems, is the fact that older people experience asteady loss of friends and/or relatives due to death. (1989). (1975). Kalish, R. & Fowler, N. Sex in marriage: At 4 and beyond. Friendship and kinshipinteraction: Differential effect on the morals of the elderly. However, Rogers does point out that physical disorderscan be improved through good health care practices such as proper nutritionand exercise and that such improvements can do much to lift the spirit ofthe elderly. Without this perception,even an increase in the elderly's social circle of friends will not operateto reduce and/or eliminate depression. In J.E.Burren and R.B. Man does not die, he kills himself.International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 6(4), 367-37 . If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.