Elderly depression
Elderly depression-Signs of sadness and/or depression and lethargy differ with age, so if we see them in an elderly or very old person, let us not ignore the situation because we think that it is a transient state and things will soon return to their course …
Indeed, signs of depression, and specifically if they persist and persist, may turn into depression, and as for this phenomenon, it differs greatly between the young adult and the elderly adult. Completely! What we may consider merely depression, may signify the beginning of a mental disorder in the elderly person!
Persistent depression in an elderly person may lead to “madness” or some kind of disorder, and perhaps. And this is the worst if a person has suicidal thoughts!
Knowing that the state of depression or lethargy, sadness and sometimes frustration may not appear clearly visible, but it is one of the most important behavioral disorders. Therefore, it must be diagnosed early. Why this early diagnosis? First, in order to discover the location of the imbalance, and secondly, to avoid any suicide attempt.
- It is important to spot the slightest dip in enthusiasm
It is essential for parents or close relatives to notice, as soon as possible, any decline in enthusiasm, vitality or motivation among the elderly. Even apathy and lethargy are preconceived signs that may foreshadow the onset of Alzheimer’s, before reaching the stage of madness or lethargy. Also, these 3 elements are among the first symptoms of depression,
which can be linked to Alzheimer’s disease. As for behavioral disorders, they may be the first concrete evidence of brain malfunction. Recently, the International Association of Psychiatry for the Elderly suggested classifying these disorders in the category of “psychological and behavioral symptoms”. They, therefore, include perceptual disturbances, the nature or content of thoughts, behavior, and mood.
This classification also allows recording or monitoring all the signs that can be observed or seen: hostility, restlessness, indecision or confusion, strange movements outside the norm, … the same is true of everything that is emotional and emotional: anxiety, fear, depression, … so At the slightest sign of regression, defect, or disturbance in behavior, thinking, a specialist in the field should inevitably be consulted.
Before disease control
You must act quickly, that is, before the appearance of loud or sudden violent signs or “loud” movements, as these come at a very advanced stage of mental disorder. Indeed, it only becomes apparent when the disease is completely under control and the state of insanity is confirmed.
Beware of lethargy symptoms! It translates through the elderly losing a sense of initiative, loss of interest and weakness or lack of emotions, reactions and feelings. Loss of interest also appears to be the most important predictor of Alzheimer’s disease. Here, psychiatrists use a range of neuropsychological tests that address apathy and lethargy. Target? A possible diagnosis of a case of Alzheimer’s. As for the symptoms of depression such as sadness, pessimism, feelings of guilt, and “melancholy” suicidal perceptions, they also predict the onset of insanity. Hence, the importance of early diagnosis to detect the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and prevent the risk of suicide.
As mentioned earlier, the symptoms of depression differ in the elderly compared to the young adult and are characterized by clinical characteristics:
No clear expression of sadness
Extreme anxiety and prominent disturbances in impression
Predominant lethargy
In the case of “hidden” or latent depression, the elderly person may complain of sporadic body aches and memory disorders of the subjective type.
practically
Faced with an unusual but sudden lethargy, accompanied by disturbances in the memory, it is essential to explore cognitive performance, or cognitive performance, in particular. Here, it is recommended to consult an expert or a specialist in memory and recall, in order to assess the psychological state more accurately and in depth. As for any depressive symptoms, the possible sources must be researched: accidents and facts of life, health history, treatments taken or taken by the patient … The symptoms should be carefully defined.
How are cognitive functions evaluated? The knowledge or perception process is usually organized according to major anatomical and functional systems that are different and independent of one another. Here, experts divide these devices into two types: primary or primitive (sight, hearing, movements, …) and superior or superior devices; Great device for understanding and producing language. Any possible defect may cause disorders in the language or what is known as aphasia, that is, loss of the ability to express speech.
With the exception of language, the major organs include short and long-term memory, logical thinking. Long memory distinguishes between recollections of knowledge and knowledge related to the world (semantic memory) and recollections of autobiographical or automatic recollections of a person, and these are composed of life stages (intermediate or annular memory). On the other hand, there are dependent or auxiliary devices, or what is known as secondary complementary devices.
Identify defect sites in the brain
It’s worth knowing: The perceptual-cognitive systems are linked to specific sites in the brain. This allows forming an idea of weak brain sites or sites of damage in case there is any deficiency or deficiency in one or more of these cognitive functions.
In addition, each neurodegenerative disease (Alzheimer’s for example) exhibits a specific pattern of brain damage and, consequently, cognitive decline. Accordingly, it is possible to build a diagnosis on the basis of measuring or specifying the characteristics of the cognitive defect. This defect may be disclosed by the patient spontaneously or reported to the patient’s surroundings from the family or close relatives.
