What Is the Dominant Discourse of Depression & the Elderly?
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Risk Factors
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Elderly depression is most common in those facing chronic illness or cognitive disorders, but genetics, loss and other emotional factors also increase an individual's risk, according to the American Journal of Preventative Medicine.
Signs
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Signs of depression in the elderly include changes in behavior, thinking, emotional display and physical condition, reports the Missouri Department of Mental Health.
Treatment
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Psychotherapy, antidepressant medication, improved health and group activities are effective depression treatments for the elderly, reports the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Suicide
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Elderly depression is highly treatable, but the NIH warns that elderly men, particularly those who live alone, are at heightened risk for suicide. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates elderly suicides account for 16 percent of all suicides.
Prevention
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MayoClinic.com advises that early detection and depression treatments for the elderly are critical to prevent disability and reduce the number of elderly suicides.
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