Depression in Elderly The number of elderly people suffering from depression is on the rise. Sadly, a large number of the elderly with depression don’t seek professional help. Even those who do seek professional help don’t always get the treatment they need. This article looks at the different symptoms, causes and risk factors of depression in elderly, its prevalence, available treatments, and how you can help your aging family members and friends. Depression in the elderly is a problem that affects many people around the world. Studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 7 million American adults over the age of 65 experience depression each year. This is a very large number of people especially considering that the population under question is aged between 65 years and 85 years. However, only a small percentage of people in this population usually seek treatment for depression. Majority of those who fall under this category prefer to ‘ride it out’ so...
An intrusive thought is an unwelcome, involuntary thought, image, or unpleasant idea that may become an obsession, is upsetting or distressing, and can feel difficult to manage or eliminate. (source: Wikipedia ) Common examples of intrusive thoughts include unwanted, intrusive thoughts about the safety of oneself or others, causing distress, and thoughts of performing dangerous actions. These thoughts may lead to negative behaviors, which may increase vulnerability to future experiences of trauma. Intrusive thoughts have been linked to recent life stress, sleep deprivation, prior anxiety, and childhood abuse. The state of depression , suicidal ideation, or anxiety may also be caused by the release of stress hormones. Analysis of studies in subjects who had experienced prolonged periods of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) found that intrusive thoughts and flashbacks are associated with greater than 50% of symptoms, especially memory fragmentation. Intrusive thoughts often occur ...