Psychological Depression in the Elderly in Medical/Rehabilitation/Nursing Care Settings

Issue title: Geriatric Rehabilitation

Guest editors: Peter A. LichtenbergIssue Editor

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Bieliauskas, Linas A.

Affiliations: VA Medical Center and University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Abstract: The prevalence of psychological depression in elderly patients in medical/rehabilitation/nursing care settings is reviewed, with general levels of 20% to 35% and more specific levels up to 70% being reported for these populations. Depression is seen as readily identifiable in these patients, though it is probably a different entity than that seen in modal onset of depression in younger psychiatric populations. In elderly non psychiatric patients, depression is more likely to be situationally/relationship based, being related to medical and behavioral difficulties. Depression is seen as having a negative impact on patient treatment, though it does not clearly have an impact on longevity in healthy, community-living older citizens. Aggressive treatment of depression in elderly patients is supported.

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-1993-3107

Journal: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 42-50, 1993