DEPRESSION IN THE ELDERLY

Depression is one of the most common geriatric syndromes among elderly, causing considerable disability and mortality. Depressive disorders are a major social and public health problem because it alters the quality of life of the sufferer and their environment. Also is a problem because it increases with age among other factors due to the progressive aging of the population.

Particularly depression and mood disorders in general, have a high prevalence and associated high morbidity. The prevalence varies by population group in which we study (elderly in community homes or in hospitals) and according to the diagnostic instrument used (with interview or scales).

In my view, depression in the elderly, although is underdiagnosed and undertreated, often not given enough relevance disease, having predominant physical or cognitive symptoms like any other disease.

The nursing intervention in this disease is vital, it must act on their diagnosis and assessing their improvement helping to decrease medical diagnosis of depression.

Bibliography.

Balmón Cruz Carmen, Dorado Primo Juan Alejandro. Detección y prevalencia de trastornos depresivos geriátricos en atención primaria. Rev. Asoc. Esp. Neuropsiq. [revista en la Internet]. 2004 Jun. Available in:

http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0211573520

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Gorete Reis Mª, Gonçalves Silva Cláudia Mª, Longino Fernandes Toni. Depresión (humor deprimido) en los mayores residentes en la comunidad. Gerokomos [revista en la Internet]. 2009 Sep [citado 2012 Mar 30]. Available in:

http://scielo.isciii.es/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1134928X20

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