Those individuals who are 65 years of age or older have several risk factors for depression including certain medications they may be taking, other diseases they may have, social isolation, a recent bereavement, damage to their body caused by amputation, cancer, surgery or accident destruction. Other risk factors are fear of death, a family history of depression, a previous episode of depression or attempted suicide, and also substance abuse.
Medications that can trigger depression in the elderly are:
Anticholinergics are used to relieve cramping or spasms experienced in the intestines, bladder or stomach. Medications such as Anaspaz, Bentyl, Gastrosed and Levbid are anticholinergics.
Cogentin is used to treat Parkinson's disease and has been shown to cause depression in some individuals. Another drug used to treat Parkinson's that can also cause depression is bromocriptine.
Corticosteroids, which are used to reduce swelling and the activity of the immune system, can also trigger depression. Medications that are corticosteoids are hydrocortisone, prednisone flonase, nasocort, nasonex, and flovent
Tagamet a popular medication used to treat heartburn
Capoten is a medication that is prescribed for those with high blood pressure
Chronic Diseases that can trigger depression include:
Arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, HIV/AIDS, lupus and also multiple sclerosis
Diseases can demand a lot out of the elderly person's body, zapping energy, reducing mobility and robbing the person of valuable independence. All of these consequences to chronic disease can bring the individual to despair and extreme sadness. Depression is a complication to chronic disease.
Hardships experienced from the disease can also trigger a psychological reaction that can lead to depression.
The risk for depression increases with the increase in severity of a chronic disease.
A double whammy is experienced when the depression caused by the chronic disease actually aggravates the disease because depression can intensify pain.
Social isolation, a recent bereavement, and damage to their body can also trigger depression in the elderly:
When an elderly individual is isolated from other members of the community they are cut off from support systems that could assist them with hardships or stresses that trigger depression. A recent loss such as a spouse or other family member or a close friend can emotionally deplete the individual and make them vulnerable to depression. The physical and emotional trauma of having an amputation or receiving physical damage to the body in any way can cause psychological and emotional harm that can trigger depression.
The fear of death becomes stronger the older one gets and for many this brings about great anxiety which causes depression.
Those individuals who have been depressed previously are more likely to suffer depression when any of the above causes are present.
Chronic or severe pain can lead to fatigue and depression as the situation continues in apparent hopelessness for the individual suffering the pain.
Elderly individuals who abuse any substance alcohol included are at a higher risk for depression because alcohol and other drugs are depressants.
