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Depression in the Elderly Center - Dothan, AL

Dothan Psychiatrist Doctors for Depression in the Elderly

Type of Physician: Psychiatrist

What is a Psychiatrist?

A certification by the Board of Psychiatry & Neurology; practitioners are skilled in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental, addictive and emotional disorders. He or she is trained to understand the biological, psychological and social components of illness and is qualified to order diagnostic laboratory tests and to prescribe medications, as well as to evaluate and treat psychological and interpersonal problems. The psychiatrist is also prepared to intervene with individuals and families who are coping with stress, crises, and other problems in living.

Specialty: Psychiatry

Common Name:

Psychiatrist Doctors in Dothan *

Michael F Ferrell MD
Michael F Ferrell
114 E Troy St
Dothan, AL 36303
(334) 671-5577

Alabama Psychiatric Services
Mark Pichler
1672 Columbia Hwy
Dothan, AL 36301
(334) 793-1964

Alabama Psychiatric Services
Sam C West
1672 Columbia Hwy
Dothan, AL 36301
(334) 793-1964

Multi-Specialty Clinic
C Roby Hicks
1118 Ross Clark Cir
STE 501
Dothan, AL 36301
(334) 793-9564

Multi-Specialty Clinic
Ann B McDowell
4300 W Main St
STE 102
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 793-9564

Southeast Psychiatric Services
Fernando Lopez
1841 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 712-1170

Southeast Psychiatric Services
Eyob H Tessema
1841 Honeysuckle Rd
Dothan, AL 36305
(334) 712-1170

Dothan Behavioral Medicine Clinic
Nelson M Handal
101 Medical Dr
Dothan, AL 36303
(334) 702-7222

David D Schaffer MD & George W Demuth MD
George William Demuth
7051 Fain Park Dr
STE 117
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 215-7308

David D Schaffer MD & George W Demuth MD
David D Schaffer
7051 Fain Park Dr
STE 117
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 215-7308

Montgomery Psychiatry & Associates
William C Freeman
1040 Longfield Ct
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 288-9009

Montgomery Psychiatry & Associates
David D Harwood
1040 Longfield Ct
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 288-9009

Grandview Behavioral Health
Caroline Abolade
315 St Luke's Dr
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 409-9242

East Alabama Behavioral Medicine
David D Hall
6324 Woodmere Blvd
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 272-3889

Alabama Psychiatric Services
Eric Hedberg
5906 Carmichael Pl
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 409-9090

East Alabama Psychiatric Svcs
Edward Kern
2214 Executive Park Dr
Opelika, AL 36801
(334) 821-0238

East Alabama Psychiatric Svcs
Peter Lusche
2214 Executive Park Dr
Opelika, AL 36801
(334) 821-0238

Dothan, Alabama

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Depression in the Elderly

How does depression in the elderly differ from depression in younger adults?

Depression in later life frequently coexists with other medical illnesses and disabilities. In addition, advancing age is often accompanied by loss of social support systems due to the death of a spouse or siblings, retirement, or relocation of residence. Because of changes in an elderly person's circumstances and the fact that elderly people are expected to slow down, doctors and family may miss the signs of depression. As a result, effective treatment gets delayed. Many seniors find themselves trying to cope with symptoms that could have been easily treated.

Depression tends to last longer in elderly adults. It doubles their risk of cardiac diseases and increases their risk of death from illness. At the same time, depression reduces an elderly person's ability to rehabilitate.

Studies of nursing home patients with physical illnesses have shown that the presence of depression substantially increases the likelihood of death from those illnesses. Depression also has been associated with increased risk of death following a heart attack. For that reason, making sure that an elderly person you are concerned about is evaluated and treated is important, even if the depression is mild.

Depression in the elderly, especially elderly white men, is more likely to lead to suicide. The suicide rate in people ages 80 to 84 is more than twice that of the general population. The National Institute of Mental Health considers depression in people age 65 and older to be a major public health problem.

How is insomnia related to depression in the elderly?

Insomnia is usually a symptom of depression. New studies reveal that insomnia is also a risk factor for depression onset and recurrence -- particularly in the elderly.

To treat insomnia, experts recommend the newer "...

Recommended Reading Related to Depression in the Elderly

Dissociative Identity Disorder »

What is dissociative identity disorder?

Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a mental illness that involves the sufferer experiencing at least two clear identities or personality states, also called alters, each of which has a fairly consistent way of viewing and relating to the world. Some individuals with DID have been found to have personality states that have distinctly different ways of reacting, in terms of emotions, pulse, blood pressure, and blood flow to the brain. This disorder was formerly called multiple personality disorder (MPD) and is often referred to as split personality disorder. Statistics regarding this disorder indicate that the incidence of DID is about 3% of patients in psychiatric hospitals and is described as occurring in females nine times more often than in males. However, this female preponderance may be due to difficulty identifying the disorder in males. Also, disagreement among mental-health professionals about ho...

Emergency Contact for Dothan

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Dothan Hospitals *

Southeast Alabama Medical Center
1108 Ross Clark Cir
Dothan, AL 36301
(334)793-8111

HEALTHSOUTH Rehab Hospital of Dothan
1736 E Main St
Dothan, AL 36301
(334)712-6333

Flowers Hospital
4370 W Main St
Dothan, AL 36305
(334)793-5000

Campbellton-Graceville Hospital
5429 College Dr
Graceville, FL 32440
(850)263-4431

Dale Medical Center
126 Hospital Ave
Ozark, AL 36360
(334)774-2601

Medical Center Enterprise
400 N Edwards St
Enterprise, AL 36330
(334)347-0584

Early Memorial Hospital
11740 Columbia St
Blakely, GA 39823
(229)723-4241

Jackson Hospital
4250 Hospital Dr
Marianna, FL 32446
(850)526-2200

Wiregrass Medical Center
1200 W Maple Ave
Geneva, AL 36340
(334)684-3655

Donalsonville Hospital
102 Hospital Cir
Donalsonville, GA 39845
(229)524-5217

Northwest Florida Community Hospital
1360 Brickyard Rd
Chipley, FL 32428
(850)638-1610

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