Depression & Suicide in the Elderly The purpose of this paper is to ex

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 provides a more technical definition of the disorder noting that it is characterized by at least four of the following symptoms: (1) a loss of interest or pleasure in life and general withdrawal; (2) appetite disturbances usually leading to weight loss; (3) sleep disturbances; (4) psychomotor disturbances; (5) decreases in energy level; (6) a sense of unworthiness; (7) difficulty in concentrating; and (8) a number of subsidiary symptoms such as anxiety, phobia, hypochondriasis, tearfulness and irritability.

According to Rogers (1982), depression is the number-one mental disorder among older people. However, she points out that statistics on depression among elderly populations can be misleading because symptoms are often masked by such factors as physical illness or malnutrition. Moreover, she states that often what appear to be

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eople of their own age (Kalish, 1975). Kalish (1975) also reports that the elderly can become despondent over age-related limitations such as failing sensor, motor, and mental capacities. For example, Kalish points out that ten times as many older people as younger ones are unable to read newsprint. Further, they become increasingly impaired in motor activities due to conditions such as arthritis, general weakness, and so forth. Further, older people experience a high incidence of physical disorders. According to Rogers (1982), about 15 to 45 percent of people over 65 experience problems related to rheumatism, orthopedic impairment and heart disease. Also, three-fourths of all cancer patients are people over the age of 65. However, Rogers does point out that physical disorders can be improved through good health care practices such as proper nutrition and exercise and that such improvements can do much to lift the spirit of the elderly. Related to the problem of aging and physical health is the fact that body changes associated with old age mean that people have to adjust to a new, often enfeebled self-image. Kalish (1975) reports one woman saying: I am a prisoner of my body. It's not really me with arthritis, with s
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Approximate Word count = 1572
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)