Elderly: Talk to Your Doctor About Depression

If you are not feeling well emotionally, you should see your doctor, right? Yes, of course—but just going to the doctor won't guarantee that your emotional problems will get much attention, particularly if you are elderly.

Many primary care doctors diagnose and treat major depression and other psychiatric disorders; however, a new study of elderly patients published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggests that the mental health issues of senior citizens are often not identified or are, at best, discussed only in passing.

Even though about half the elderly patients in the study reported experiencing some degree of depression, less than a quarter of them got to actually discuss their problems during visits with their doctor. And these discussions typically lasted about 2 minutes!

This tells us that these patients either do not think to tell their primary care doctor about their mood, or that doctors often do not follow up on older patients' expressions of emotional distress.

The researchers argue that primary care physicians should themselves be given greater support in treating and, when appropriate, referring patients with depression, suicidal thoughts and related mental health disturbances.

Here's a Geriatric Depression Scale you can use to gauge whether you or an older person you know may be depressed:

1.
Are you basically satisfied with your life?
2. Have you dropped many of your activities and interests?
3. Do you feel that your life is empty?
4. Do you often get bored?
5. Are you in good spirits most of the time?
6. Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you?
7. Do you feel happy most of the time?
8. Do you often feel helpless?
9. Do you prefer to stay at home, rather than going out and doing things?
10. Do you feel that you have more problems with memory than most?
11. Do you think it is wonderful to be alive now?
12. Do you feel worthless the way you are now?
13. Do you feel full of energy?
14. Do you feel that your situation is hopeless?
15. Do you think that most people are better off than you are?

Score one point each if you answered No to Questions 1, 5, 7, 11, and 13. Score one point each if you answered Yes to Questions 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 15. Total the points.

A score of 5 or more points raises the possibility that you have major depression and that you should certainly consider consulting with a health care provider. You can find out more about the scale and other related information from the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation.

The take-home message: Speak up, be your own advocate, and be explicit. Make sure that you get across to your health care providers that you are suffering from emotional problems and address your concerns. Don't wait for them to guess how you are feeling.