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Mental Illness Diagnosis in Aging Patients

quires (1) a differential diagnosis, (2) a treatment course, and (3) cure (Stravynski & O'Connor, 1995, p. 608). An illness must have signs (symptoms) distinguishing it from other illnesses. The symptomatology must fit into a unitary category (syndrome). The conditions required for a diagnosis of anxiety vary in relation to the specific anxiety disorder involved (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, pp. 393-444).

The manifestations of anxiety are many and varied (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, pp. 393-444; Famularo & Fenton, 1994, pp. 1032-1038; Katerndahl, 1991, pp. 391-396). Anxiety may be a contributing factor in the development of clinical depression (Weisz, Sweeney, Proffitt, & Carr, 1993, pp. 411-418). Anxiety also may be associated with the development of mood problems (Catanzaro, 1993, pp. 327-330). Anxiety may be one of the causal factors in the development of behavioral problems (Famularo & Fenton, 1994, pp. 1032-1038). A sense of panic is a component of many anxiety disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p. 393).

Studies indicate that older adults are commonly subject to depression (Ward, 1993, pp. 427-438). Depression is possibly the most serious of the psychological problems that are faced by older adults. As individuals age, psychological, physiological, and sociological changes occur that cause interpersonal communication to become more difficult, while simultaneously increasing the need of the individual for effective interpersonal communication (Stevens, 1993, pp. 313-325 ). Often, neither the elderly individual nor younger persons interacting with the elderly individual are cognizant of such changes. The outcomes of such a situation are all too often social and physical isolation for the elderly with predictable further psychological and physiological deteriorations.

Depressed elderly patients are frequently anxious and agitated (Reynolds, 1995, pp. S6-S15). A diagnosis of ...

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Mental Illness Diagnosis in Aging Patients. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 13:43, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1694810.html