Depression in Older People: What does the Future Hold?

✍ Scribed by JAMES P. WARNER

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 445 KB
• Volume: 11
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199609)11:9<831::aid-gps395>3.0.co;2-o

✦ Synopsis

Demographic, economic and social changes over the next few decades are likely to have a significant effect on the care of the elderly. This personal view, from a United Kingdom perspective, examines some of these changes and assesses the impact they may have on the prevalence and treatment of depression in older people. Strategies for minimizing the marginalization of this group are discussed.

KEY WORDS-depressive disorder; aged Depression is common in older people. Although estimates vary, community surveys have found a prevalence of significant depression of 10-1 5% . Many individuals with depression are not diagnosed , and those who are may be undertreated . Depression in the elderly appears to have a poor prognosis both in terms of physical and psychological morbidity and mortality (Murphy, 1983; Murphy et al., 1988; Copeland et al., 1992). Despite a range of therapeutic options available (Benbow, 1992), it appears that current management of depression in this group is less than ideal.

So what does the future hold for the elderly depressed? If the current state of affairs continues, many older patients with depression will go unrecognized or inadequately treated. Furthermore, over the next few decades, this country is likely to undergo demographic, economic and societal changes that are likely to adversely affect older people. This article examines some of these putative changes, considers their impact on depressed older patients and outlines possible strategies for improving the outcome of this group.