Depression in old age is often recognized too late

Depression in old age is by no means uncommon, but these often remain unrecognized, because the mental illness is reflected in physical instead of emotional complaints (somatic complaints). In addition, "the demarcation between depression and dementia due to similar symptoms can be a great challenge," reports the Chairman of the Foundation German Depressionshilfe Ulrich Hegerl in the current issue of the journal "Pro age" of the Board of Trustees German Altershilfe (KDA).

"Around four million people in Germany are affected by depression, younger as well as older," says the KDA. In old age, the diagnosis and treatment is sometimes made much more difficult. If the grandparents have a depression, they are also particularly suicidal. According to Ulrich Hegerl, suicide risk in men over 75 years is five times higher than the average for the population. Depressed senior citizens are therefore urgently in need of therapeutic help, but also support from the family. According to the KDA, however, this can be a considerable burden for the latter and they need a high level of resilience, the so-called resilience, in order not to suffer depression themselves.

Deficits in diagnosis and treatment
In addition to brain disorders, depressive disorders are among the most common mental disorders in old age, but the quality of care remains low, according to the Dusseldorf psychiatrist Martin Haupt in the press release of the KDA. Deficits in diagnostics and treatment are due among other things to the symptomatic peculiarities. Because often elderly people would complain about somatic rather than psychological suffering when visiting a doctor. This should pay particular attention to the treating physicians, according to Haupt. Not infrequently, those affected would retire to bed and thereby quickly lose strength, Ulrich Hegerl is quoted by the news agency "dpa". In addition, the sufferers neglect, according to the expert, sometimes the food and drink. They are urgently dependent on psychotherapeutic treatment, where appropriate, with the use of antidepressants. In addition, however, they also need the support of their relatives and friends.

Relatives should support those affected
For example, to free the depressed elderly from relatives, family members could take walks with them, the experts report. The relatives should also take care that those affected do not neglect their personal hygiene. The elderly with depression would also need to be empowered, for example, by receiving encouragement in coping with everyday tasks. Furthermore, an important task is the search for a suitable therapist. As a matter of principle, relatives of those affected should be well informed about the topic of depression, according to the "dpa", citing the magazine "Pro Alter". Because the better they are informed about the disease, the better the understanding for those affected. Here, the exchange with other people who also have a depressed family member can be helpful.

Relatives and caregivers heavily burdened
"Adequate care is important not only for those affected, but also for relatives and employees in the elderly," says the KDA. Because they are in their everyday lives in dealing with depressed sufferers exposed to a particularly high pressure, also because people with depression often unconsciously ask of their counterpart that this withstands depression and does not retire. Here, caregivers and relatives should learn to care for their own mental health and to develop a socially-related autonomy, not least to protect themselves from depression. (Fp)