Depression in the Elderly Center - Harrisonburg, VAHarrisonburg Psychiatrist Doctors for Depression in the ElderlyType 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 Harrisonburg * Valley Behavioral Medicine  Valley Behavioral Medicine  Valley Behavioral Medicine  John Eagle MD  Harrisonburg Rockingham CSB  Associated Mental Health Professionals Inc  Mental Health Services  Mental Health Services  Nancy G Witt MD  Augusta Psychological Associates  Comprehensive Health System  UVA Health Center Psychiatry  UVA Health Center Psychiatry  Philip T Halapin MD  Jeanne Manis MD  Child & Family Psychiatry Clinic  Psychiatric Alliance of The Blue Ridge  Psychiatric Alliance of The Blue Ridge  Psychiatric Alliance of The Blue Ridge  Child & Family Psychiatry Clinic  Joseph J David MD  David B Mika MD  UVA Psychiatric Medicine  UVA Psychiatric Medicine  UVA Psychiatric Medicine  UVA Psychiatric Medicine  Ralph L Chester MD  Poehailos Dupont & Associates PLC  Michael J Tyler MD  UVA Psychiatry  UVA Psychiatry  UVA Psychiatry  UVA Psychiatry  Region Ten Community Services Board  Valley Behavioral Health Associates  E Virginia Bayliss MD  William E Fox MD  Paul C Willkins MD  Andrew M Hucek MD  Suzanne M Pitts MD  Behavioral Health Care of Rappahannock Rapidan Fauquier  Cheema Firdous & McKelway MDs  Cheema Firdous & McKelway MDs  Cheema Firdous & McKelway MDs  Bob Lizer MD  Bob Lizer MD  Elizabeth C Trefzger MD & Don D Lee MD  Elizabeth C Trefzger MD & Don D Lee MD  C Robert Goshen MD  Piedmont Psychiatric Center  Piedmont Psychiatric Center  Piedmont Psychiatric Center  Piedmont Psychiatric Center  Piedmont Psychiatric Center  Piedmont Psychiatric Center  Daryl H Yoder MD  Noel Jewell MD  Norman B Holden MD Crossroads CSB  Noel A Schweig MD  Valerie H Boulware MD  Teresa L Delawter MD PC  Nivedita Choudhary MD  Carol E Harkrader MD  Syed Ahmed MD  Fredericksburg Oncology  Rappahannock Community Services  Rappahannock Community Services  Rappahannock Community Services  Rappahannock Community Services  Prince William Health System Counseling Center  Prince William Health System Counseling Center  Prince William Health System Counseling Center  Prince William Health System Counseling Center  Prince William Health System Counseling Center  Prince William Health System Counseling Center  Prince William Health System Counseling Center  John Heath MD  Joseph J Palombi MD Harrisonburg, VirginiaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
2012-06-03
2012-06-17
2012-06-17
2012-07-14
2012-07-21
2012-09-02
2012-09-29
2012-11-11
2012-11-18
Depression in the ElderlyRead the Depression in the Elderly article » 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 To treat insomnia, experts recommend the newer "... Recommended Reading Related to Depression in the ElderlyDissociative 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... Other Related Depression in the Elderly ArticlesEmergency Contact for Harrisonburg
Nearby Harrisonburg Hospitals *Rockingham Memorial Hospital Commonwealth Center for Children Western State Hospital Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center Augusta Medical Center Page Memorial Hospital Whisper Ridge Behavioral Health System Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center UVA HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital University of Virginia Children's Hospital University of Virginia Medical Center Shenandoah Memorial Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Depression in the Elderly by Our Doctors
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
18 articles-
Parkinson's Disease
- Parkinson's disease is a slowly progressive neurologic disease characterized by a fixed inexpressive face, a tremor at rest, slowing of voluntary movements, a gait with short accelerating steps, peculiar posture and muscle weakness, caused by degeneration of an area of the brain called the basal ganglia, and by low production of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Most patients are over 50, but at least 10 percent are under 40.
-
Depression
- Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. The principal types of depression are major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disease (also called manic-depressive disease).
-
Dissociative Identity Disorder
- Dissociative identity disorder (formerly known as multiple personality disorder or split personality disorder) is a mental illness in which a person has at least two distinct personalities. Symptoms and signs include lapses in memory, feeling unreal, blackouts in time, hearing voices in their head that are not their own, not recognizing themselves in the mirror, and finding items in one's possession but not recalling how they were acquired. Treatment usually involves psychotherapy, medications, and sometimes hypnosis.
-
Huntington's Disease
- Huntington's disease is the result of degeneration of neurons in areas of the brain. Huntington's disease is an inherited disorder. Early symptoms include mood swings, apathy, depression, and anger uncharacteristic of the individual. Judgement, memory, and other cognitive functions may become impaired. Presymptomatic testing is available for individuals who have a family history of Huntington's disease. Treatment includes medication and therapy for symptoms.
-
Cushing's Syndrome
- Cushing's syndrome, sometimes referred to as hypercortisolism, is a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of the hormone cortisol. Symptoms may include obesity, thinning arms and legs, a rounded face, and increased fat around the neck. Some causes of Cushing's syndrome is from taking glucocorticoid hormones such as prednisone for inflammatory diseases. Treatment for Cushing's syndrome depends on the cause.
-
Grief: Loss of a Loved One
- Grief is the feeling one experiences after a loss (of a friendship, death of loved one, job). Complicated grief refers to grief that lasts for more than a year. Mourning describes the customs and rituals that help a bereaved individual make sense of their loss.
-
Alzheimer's Disease
- Alzheimer's disease is a common cause of dementia. Symptoms and warning signs of Alzheimer's disease include memory loss, difficulty performing familiar tasks, disorientation to time and place, misplacing things, and more. The biggest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease is increased age. Treatment for Alzheimer's is often targeted toward decreasing the symptoms and progression of the disease.
-
Hypercalcemia (Elevated Calcium Levels)
- Hypercalcemia is a condition in which calcium levels in the blood are elevated. Hypercalcemia is associated with other conditions such as hyperparathyroidism, lung cancer, breast cancer, kidney failure, and elevated levels of vitamin D. Symptoms of hypercalcemia include constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, kidney stones, to name a few. Treatment depends on the cause of hypercalcemia.
-
Fatigue
- Fatigue can be described in various ways. Sometimes fatigue is described as feeling a lack of energy and motivation (both mental and physical). The causes of fatigue are generally related to a variety of conditions or diseases for example, anemia, mono, medications, sleep problems, cancer, anxiety, heart disease, drug abuse, and more. Treatment of fatigue is generally directed toward the condition or disease that is causing the fatigue.
-
Insomnia
- Insomnia is the perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep because of difficulty falling asleep; waking up frequently during the night with difficulty returning to sleep; waking up too early in the morning; or unrefreshing sleep. Secondary insomnia is the most common type of insomnia. Treatment for insomnia include lifestyle changes, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medication.
-
Gambling Addiction
- Compulsive gambling is a disorder that affects millions in the U.S. Symptoms and signs include a preoccupation with gambling, lying to family or loved ones to hide gambling, committing crimes to finance gambling, and risking importance relationships and employment due to gambling. Treatment may incorporate participation in Gamblers' Anonymous, psychotherapy, and medications like carbamazepine, topiramate, lithium, naltrexone, antidepressants, clomipramine, and fluvoxamine.
-
Dysthymia
- Dysthymia is a less severe form of chronic depression. Symptoms and signs include insomnia, suicidal thoughts, guilt, empty feeling, loss of energy, helplessness, sluggishness, and persistent aches and pains. Treatment may involve psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, and antidepressants.
-
Mental Illness
- Mental illness is any disease or condition affecting the brain that influence the way a person thinks, feels, behaves, and/or relates to others. Mental illness is caused by heredity, biology, psychological trauma and environmental stressors.
-
Emotional Eating
- Emotional eating can be detrimental to one's efforts at weight loss. Learning to identify the situations and emotions that trigger overeating can help to break the habit and prevent future instances of compulsive eating.
-
Senior Sex
- Enjoying a satisfying sex life as we age is important to both physical and mental health. As we age, diseases and conditions may pose challenges in our sexual health, and sexual experiences. Learn how to manage your conditions and still have a gratifying sex life as you age.
-
Alzheimer's Disease Patient Caregiver Guide
- Caring for a loved one or patient with Alzheimer's can become a difficult and overwhelming task at times. This guide helps caregivers of individual's with Alzheimer's deal with communicating, bathing, and dressing; as well as problem solving with incontinence, sleeping, wandering; and coping with difficulties Alzheimer's patients present.
-
Binswanger's Disease
- Binswanger's disease is a type of vascular dementia that is caused by damage to the blood vessels that feed deep areas of the brain. Symptoms of the disease may include memory loss, mood changes, and difficulty with decision making. There is no specific treatment for Binswanger's disease. Symptoms may be managed with antidepressants and atypical antipsychotic drugs. Management of underlying diseases, including hypertension and diabetes, may help. Binswanger's disease is progressive and there is no cure.
-
Caregiving
- Most often, caregivers take care of other adults who are ill or disabled. Less often, caregivers are grandparents raising their grandchildren. The majority of caregivers are middle-aged women. Caregiving can be very stressful, so it's important to recognize when it's putting to much strain on you and to take steps to prevent/relieve stress.
-
Parkinson's Disease
-
Medications
11 articles -
Procedures & Tests
0 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
10 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
9 articles -
Health News
5 articles -
Health Features
20 articles
