Rapid City SD Psychiatrist Doctors - Information on Depression in the Elderly on MedicineNet.com

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Depression in the Elderly Center - Rapid City, SD

Rapid City 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 Rapid City *

Black Hills Psychiatry Associates
Richard P Renka
528 Quincy St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 348-5401

Dakota Psychiatry
Charles J Lord
419 Quincy St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 348-6365

Donald W Burnap MD
Donald W Burnap
550 N 5th St
STE 301
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 348-5400

Manlove Psychiatric Group
Stephen Manlove
636 Saint Anne St
STE 100
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 348-8000

Harry Hamlyn MD
Harry Hamlyn
915 Mountain View Rd
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 719-7200

Black Hills Neurology
Craig Mills
2929 5th St
STE 240
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605) 341-3770

Terry R Hicks MD
Terry R Hicks
2525 W Main St
STE 209
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 341-6574

Rapid City, South Dakota

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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

Binswanger's Disease »

What is Binswanger's Disease?

Binswanger's disease (BD), also called subcortical vascular dementia, is a type of dementia caused by widespread, microscopic areas of damage to the deep layers of white matter in the brain. The damage is the result of the thickening and narrowing (atherosclerosis) of arteries that feed the subcortical areas of the brain. Atherosclerosis (commonly known as "hardening of the arteries") is a systemic process that affects blood vessels throughout the body. It begins late in the fourth decade of life and increases in severity with age. As the arteries become more and more narrowed, the blood supplied by those arteries decreases and brain tissue dies. A characteristic pattern of Binswanger's disease-damaged brain tissue can be seen with modern brain imaging techniques such as CT scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

What are the symptoms of Binswanger's disease?

The symptoms associated with Binswanger'...

Emergency Contact for Rapid City

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Rapid City Hospitals *

Regional West Center for Behavioral Health
915 Mountain View Rd
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605)719-7200

Rapid City Regional Hospital
353 Fairmont Blvd
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605)719-1000

Black Hills Rehabilitation Hospital
2908 5th St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605)719-1100

Rapid City Indian Health Service Hospital
3200 Canyon Lake Dr
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605)355-2500

Sturgis Community Health Care Center
949 Harmon St
Sturgis, SD 57785
(605)347-2536

VA Black Hills Health Care System Fort Meade
113 Comanche Rd
Fort Meade, SD 57741
(605)347-2511

Custer Community Hospital
1039 Montgomery St
Custer, SD 57730
(605)673-2229

Northern Hills General Hospital
61 Charles St
Deadwood, SD 57732
(605)578-2313

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