Beat Depression to Stay Healthier & Live Longer: A Guide for Older Adults & Their Families

Many people find the reality of getting older depressing. And depression itself often comes with a stigma. So when we talk about depression and aging combined, what results is a very complicated — and often hard to treat — issue. Gary S. Moak, former president of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, has written a new book to help. Beat Depression to Stay Healthier and Live Longer: A Guide for Older Adults and Their Families combines Moak’s years of experience working with elderly populations with the latest research on depression. Moak begins by defining depression and clarifying many of the myths that surround it. The first clarification he makes — and perhaps the most important — is that old age is not itself depressing. Instead, Moak writes, it is a serious illness of its own. While we might assume that illness, disability, and loss of independence all constitute depression, this is not the case, writes Moak. Depression also is not purely psychological. Instead, Moak tells us, it is condition that increases the risk of almost every physical ailment older adults finds themselves facing: things like Alzheimers and diabetes, even the risk of falling. To make his case, Moak cites some powerful studies. Depression increases the chance of having a stroke. After a heart attack, depression doubles the chance of dying. Depression increases the likelihood that patients with chronic kidney disease will go on dialysis. Depression weakens the immune sy...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Aging Antidepressants Book Reviews Depression Family General Psychology Self-Help Seniors Treatment antidepressants for elderly patients antidepressants for old people beat depression depression and aging depression geriatric Source Type: news