Treating Depression

Last Updated: July 1, 2003

Everyone gets the blues now and then. It’s part of life. But if you feel little joy or pleasure after visiting with friends or seeing a good movie, you may have a more serious problem. Being depressed for a while, without letup, can change the way you think and feel. Doctors call this “clinical depression.”

Don’t let the blues hang around
Being “down in the dumps” over a period of time is not a normal part of growing old. But it is a common problem, and medical help may be needed. For most people, depression will get better with treatment. You do not need to suffer.

There are many reasons why depression in older people is often missed or untreated. As a person ages, the signs of depression are much more likely to be seen as crankiness or grumpiness.

Depression can also be tricky to recognize. Confusion or attention problems caused by depression can sometimes look like Alzheimer’s disease or other brain disorders. Mood changes and signs of depression can be caused by medicines older people may take for arthritis, high blood pressure or heart disease. It can be hard for a doctor to diagnose depression, but the good news is that people who are depressed often feel better with the right treatment.

Getting help
The first step is to accept that you or your family member needs help. Perhaps you are one of those people who are uncomfortable with the subject of mental illness. Or, you might feel that asking for help is a sign of weakness. You might be like many other older people, their relatives, or friends. They believe that a depressed person can quickly “snap out of it” or that some people are too old to be helped. They are wrong. A health care provider can help you.

Once you decide to get medical advice, start with your family doctor. The doctor should check to see if your depression could be caused by a health problem or a medicine you are taking. After a complete exam, your doctor may suggest you talk to a mental health worker, such as a social worker, mental health counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist. The special nature of depression in older people has led to a different medical specialty – geriatric psychiatry.

Don’t avoid getting help because you are afraid of how much treatment might cost. Often, only short-term psychotherapy (talk therapy) is needed. It is often covered by insurance. Also, some community mental health centers may offer treatment based on a person’s ability to pay.

Be aware that some family doctors may not understand about aging and depression. They may not be interested in these complaints. Or, they may not know what to do. If your doctor is unable or unwilling to take seriously your concerns about depression, you may want to talk to another health care provider who can help.

Are you the relative or friend of a depressed older person who won’t go to a doctor for treatment? Explain how treatment may help the person feel better. In some cases, when a depressed person can’t or won’t go to the doctor’s office, the doctor or mental health specialist can start by making a phone call. The telephone can’t take the place of the personal contact needed for a complete medical checkup, but it can break the ice. Sometimes the doctor might make a home visit.

Treatments
Different therapies seem to work in different people. For instance, support groups can provide new coping skills or social support if you are dealing with a major life change. A doctor might suggest that you use a local senior center, volunteer service or nutrition program.

Several kinds of “talk” therapies are useful as well. One method might help give you a more positive outlook on life. Always thinking about the sad things in your life or what you have lost might have led to your depression.

Don’t forget to let family and friends help you. Getting better takes time, but with support from others and treatment you will get a little better each day.

Antidepressant drugs can also help. These medications can improve your mood, sleep, appetite and concentration. There are several types of antidepressants available. Some of these can take up to 12 weeks before you are aware of real progress. Your doctor may want you to continue medications for six months or more after your symptoms disappear.

Some antidepressants can cause unwanted side effects, although newer medicines have fewer side effects. Any antidepressant should be used with great care to avoid this problem.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can also help. It is most often recommended when medicines can’t be tolerated or when a quick response is needed. ECT, which works quickly in most people, is given as a series of treatments over a few weeks. Like other antidepressant therapies, follow-up treatment with medication or occasional (called maintenance) ECT is often needed to help prevent a return of depression.

Help from family and friends
If you are a family member or friend of someone who seems depressed, try to get that person to a health care provider for diagnosis and treatment. Then help your relative or friend to stay with the treatment plan. If needed, make appointments for the person or go along to the doctor, mental health specialist or support group.

Be patient and understanding. Get your relative or friend to go on outings with you or to go back to an activity that he or she once enjoyed. Encourage the person to be active and busy, but not to take on too much at one time.

Preventing depression
What can be done to lower the risk of depression? How can people cope? There are a few practical steps you can take.

• Try to prepare for major changes in life, such as retirement or moving from your home of many years. One way to do this is to keep and maintain friendships over the years.
• Try to find someone you feel you can talk to. Friends can help ease the loneliness if you lose a spouse.
• You can also develop a hobby. Hobbies can help keep your mind and body active.
• Stay in touch with family. Let them help you when you feel weighed down or very sad.
• If you are faced with a lot to do, try to break it up into smaller jobs that are more easily finished.
• Being physically fit and eating a balanced diet may help avoid illnesses that can bring on disability or depression.
• Follow the doctor’s directions on using medicines to lower the risk of developing depression as a side effect of a drug.

Read what Dr. Eric Kaplan advises in “Seniors and Depression.”

Source: National Institute on Aging

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