Articles on Depression

Life has its ups and downs.  Feeling unhappy or sad in response to disappointment, loss or frustration is a normal reaction.  However, clinical depression overwhelms and engulfs your day to day life, interfering with your ability to work, eat, sleep and have fun.  A person with severe depression has little to no interest in work or hobbies, and may even have trouble getting out of bed.  Learning how to understand its signs, symptoms and causes is the first step to overcoming the problem.



05/12/2011 - Articles
Elderly and depression

Elderly and depression: How to understand Depression in the elderly 1/6

Depression in the elderly is very common. It can be triggered by social isolation and the emotional reaction to the loss of loved family members or friends. Depression in the elderly can make them withdraw from all social contact. Read more

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05/04/2010 - Articles

Elderly Depression : New approaches to the management of elderly depression 5/6

A chronic disease management approach may be as applicable to elderly depression as it is to other chronic conditions like heart disease, asthma or diabetes. Chronic disease management is a more co-ordinated and organized way of treating an illness, often with the aid of a team, rather than a single doctor. The potential gains for the patient with elderly depression, and other chronic conditions, include fewer treatment days, avoidance of hospitalization, prevention of progression or relapse, and better quality of life. However, the application of chronic disease management to elderly depression is still largely experimental – though findings are promising. Read more

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05/04/2010 - Articles
Elderly depression: The age factor in depression 2/4

Elderly depression: The age factor in depression 2/6

Depression does not become more common as you get older, but it may become more complex. Recent findings on age and depression confirm the so-called U-curve of well being and happiness over the human life cycle. Read more

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05/04/2010 - Articles

Elderly depression: the pitfalls of comorbidity and polypharmacy 4/6

Elderly depression is commonly accompanied by one or more co-morbidities. That is, older people with depression are likely to have one or more other illnesses. Polypharmacy, the prescribing and dispensing of several different medicines to an individual patient, is an inevitable result of comorbidity. Read more

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05/04/2010 - Articles

Elderly Depression : where do we go from here? 6/6

Elderly depression is a rapidly growing problem of ageing populations in the world’s developed countries, particularly in Europe and Japan. Previous articles in this series, have looked at medical treatment and psychotherapy for elderly depression. Knowledge of these has advanced rapidly, but adoption into clinical practice has been slower. It is harder to apply solutions to the social causes of elderly depression like loneliness and loss. So although we have a broad understanding of ‘where we can go from here’ in elderly depression, it has to be said that we are not actually going there fast enough. Read more

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12/23/2009 - Articles

How To Spot Caregiver Burnout

The risk of burnout by family caregivers is well known, and it's important to be able to recognize the signs, so that timely help can be given. Here is a list. Read more

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12/22/2009 - Articles

Treating Depression at Home

Depression in the elderly is quite common. Many of the victims live alone, and cannot easily attend suitable treatment centers. PEARLS (Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives for Seniors) is a home-based treatment plan that has produced very encouraging results. Read more

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12/22/2009 - Articles

A 'silent' cause of depression in the elderly

Depression is not uncommon in older persons, and it usually responds to appropriate medical treatment. Not all cases of depression, however, are purely 'psychiatric' in origin . Read more

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12/22/2009 - Articles

I get dizzy!

As many as one in three older people complain that they get dizzy spells. Read more

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11/25/2009 - Articles
How Much Exercise Do You Need to Get the 'Feel-Good' Factor?

How Much Exercise Do You Need to Get the 'Feel-Good' Factor?

Feeling that your energy levels are low? A new study suggests that just ten minutes of exercise is enough to experience an increase in your energy levels. So a brisk walk at lunch might be all you need to get you through the afternoon on a high. Read more

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