{"id":7346,"date":"2015-12-29T07:30:16","date_gmt":"2015-12-29T13:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/?p=7346"},"modified":"2017-09-19T13:16:46","modified_gmt":"2017-09-19T18:16:46","slug":"a-promising-new-treatment-for-senior-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d30braiqprupoq.cloudfront.net\/blog\/2015\/12\/a-promising-new-treatment-for-senior-depression\/","title":{"rendered":"A Promising New Treatment for Senior Depression"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Promising New Treatment for Senior Depression<\/h1>\n
\"Eric

Eric Lenze MD from Washington University School of Medicine with senior depression patient Daniel Viehmann<\/p><\/div>\n

Good news for seniors with depression: A <\/span>study conducted by Washington University School of Medicine and published in The Lancet<\/a><\/i><\/strong> this fall found that 44% of depressed adults over 60 who took anti-psychotic medication along with antidepressants felt better than patients on antidepressants alone. That gives doctors another treatment option for the 5% to 18% of seniors who suffer from depression<\/a><\/strong>. Right now, experts say, as many as 90% of depressed seniors<\/em> don\u2019t receive proper treatment\u2014even though there are many effective treatment options.<\/span><\/p>\n

Part of the problem in spotting depression is that most seniors today came of age when mental illness was stigmatized, mistakenly viewed as a character flaw, or simply not discussed. Another obstacle to getting help is that depression in seniors is often mistaken for normal aging or another disorder like Alzheimer\u2019s, thyroid disease, or even cancer. An existing illness can contribute to depression while also making depression harder to identify. <\/span><\/p>\n

According to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), the rates of depression are highest for seniors who are seriously ill or disabled and those who feel socially isolated or dependent on others. Left untreated, depression can worsen other illnesses and lead to suicide\u2014a particular risk for older Caucasian men. Even if you or your parent has always had robust mental health, it\u2019s a good idea to know what depression can look like in seniors and how it can be treated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Depression in older adults may look different<\/h2>\n

The best-known symptoms of depression are a persistently low mood, lack of energy, irritability, and thoughts of hopelessness or self-harm. But among seniors, experts say, depression can show itself in other ways. NAMI recommends watching for <\/span>changes<\/strong><\/a> in behavior<\/strong><\/a> like making more demands, constantly asking for help, moving more slowly than usual, or complaining more often. <\/span><\/p>\n

Other <\/span>symptoms<\/strong><\/a> of depression<\/strong><\/a> include:<\/span><\/p>\n