Geriatric Depression

Paper Summary:

This paper explains the ramifications of geriatric depression as a disorder that is often not diagnosed or treated in elderly patients. Sources reveal that depression is on the rise in geriatric patients, that doctors continue to miss it, and that many patients end up in chronic care situations due to failed treatment, or failed primary diagnosis.

From the Paper:

"Clinical depression in geriatric patients was rarely known as a psychiatric as opposed to geriatric condition, till recently. Doctors may still see symptoms of depression as part of ageing, as in the patient's knowledge of impending death. Kurlowicz noted almost 5 million Americans above the age of 65 diagnosed with major depression of whom 13% lived in the community, 24% as medical outpatients, and 43% in acute care and nursing home situations. (1999, 8) Guerrero-Berroa & Phillips comment that, "geriatric depression has become a major concern {as} one of the most common and debilitating mental disorders in older people". (2001, 15) Elderly Canadians are..."

More papers on Geriatric Depression:

• Essay # 83795 : "Geriatric Depression"
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• Essay # 83796 : "Detection of Geriatric Depression"

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