Mental Health

Question 1

risk factors of depression in older adults

Answer 1

• female, unmarried, or widowed
• experiencing stressful life events
• lacking social support
• living in a context of loss
• having a chronic illness
• living in a nursing home
• being a caregiver
• being an ethnic minority

Question 2

reasons the older population is underserved

Answer 2

• they do not seek mental health services, usually use PCP
• may lack vocal for emotional issues
• valued independence
• may carry a negative stigma
• mental health professional may demonstrate bias against working with elderly
• older clients may be viewed as rigid, unwilling to change, and declining

Question 3

depression and geriatrics

Answer 3

• do not complain of depression, complain to medical conditions such as no sleep, low energy, decreased appetite, somatic complaints
• depression first arising after 60 may be more serious, less likely to respond to antidepressants and associated with cognitive probs

Question 4

symptoms of depression

Answer 4

affective (depressed mood)
vegatative (weight gain/loss, insomnia, decreased sex drive)
behavioral (agitation, fatigue, diminished interest or pleasure in most activities)

Question 5

depression can be masked/confused with other probs…

Answer 5

• chronic/painful physical condition
• demoralization (defeated by challenges of life-responds to common sense interventions)
• pseudodementia (symptoms mimic cog impairment)
• normal grieving

Question 6

depression vs dementia

Answer 6

depression:

• memory probs have rapid onset
• poor memory for recent and past
• distressed about memory loss

dementia:

• memory loss is progressive
• better recall of past than recent
• not aware of memory probs/try to hide it

Question 7

depression vs normal grief

Answer 7

NG:

• responds to support
• relates depression to loss
• experiences moments of joy
• expresses guilt over loss
• self esteem suffers temp.

D:

• doesnt accept support
• irritable, complains but doesn’t express anger
• does not relate experiences to any life event
• exhibits pervasive sense of doom
• chronic hopelessness
• generalized guilt

Question 8

highest risk of elderly suicide is..

Answer 8

non married males

Question 9

suicide in elderly

Answer 9

• less attempts, but more likely to die from attempt than younger person
• 80% use guns and are in first bout of depression

Question 10

3 primary negative emotions linked to disease and progression:

Answer 10

1. hostility
2. anger
3. depression

Question 11

hostility

Answer 11

• risk factor for coronary heart disease (stronger for men)

- comparable to cholesterol, smoking, hypertension

Question 12

anxiety

Answer 12

-may show significant arrhythmias under stress, leading to heart attack or sudden death