American Psychological Association
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Authors
Why Practitioners Need Information
Demographic Realities
Myths About Older Adults
Realities of Aging
Psychological Problems
of Aging
Assessment of Older Adults
Psychological Intervention
Professional Concerns
Conclusion
Professional Resources
Bibliography |
- Major depressive disorder affects about 1 percent of older adults,
and dysthymia, about 2 percent. Major depressive disorder is the most common
late onset psychological problem.
- Mania in late life does occur in the absence of acute medical precipitants.
However, not enough is known about bipolar disorder in older adults, and
it may be that it is underdiagnosed in adults over the age of 60.
- Mood disorders may present differently in older than in younger adults.
For example, compared to younger adults, depressed older adults are more
likely to have anxiety, agitation, memory problems, and bodily complaints.
They are less likely to complain of depression or feeling sad. Feeling
hopeless is often an important indicator of depression among the elderly.
- About 20 percent of older individuals living in the community report
clinically significant depressive symptoms that do not reach criteria for
a diagnosis of mood disorder. They fall into the diagnostic categories
of dysthymic disorder or adjustment disorder with depressive features.
Certain high-risk groups of older adults have a higher prevalence of depressive
symptoms and syndromes, including medical outpatients, inpatients, and
those in long-term care settings.
- The highest suicide rate of any age group is found in older adults,
primarily older Caucasian men who live alone, for whom suicide increases
dramatically from age 65 to 85 and older.
 
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