Valdosta GA Psychiatrist Doctors - Information on Depression in the Elderly on MedicineNet.com

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Depression in the Elderly Center - Valdosta, GA

Valdosta 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 Valdosta *

Pathway Wellness Center
Livingstone A Rasalam
303 Woodrow Wilson Dr
STE STE A
Valdosta, GA 31602
(229) 244-5000

Therapy Center Valdosta
Wendy L Vandemark
103 Wayne Ave
Valdosta, GA 31602
(229) 244-9688

South Georgia Psychiatric & Counseling Ctr
Nitin R Patel
2704 N Oak St
STE B3
Valdosta, GA 31602
(229) 257-0100

South Georgia Psychiatric & Counseling Ctr
Shila B Patel
2704 N Oak St
STE B3
Valdosta, GA 31602
(229) 257-0100

Behavioral Health Services
Armin Fritz Friedli
3120 N Oak St Ext
STE E
Valdosta, GA 31602
(229) 671-6150

Behavioral Health Services
Briccio Dizon Valdez
3120 N Oak St Ext
STE E
Valdosta, GA 31602
(229) 671-6150

Valdosta Psychiatric Associates
Tiffany M Kumpel
2935 Nashley St Bldg
Valdosta, GA 31602
(229) 244-4200

Valdosta Psychiatric Associates
Joel L Morgan
2935 Nashley St Bldg
Valdosta, GA 31602
(229) 244-4200

Mental Health Services
John F Beaty
615 N Main St
Moultrie, GA 31768
(229) 891-7160

Psychiatric Center
A Kenneth Fuller
554 Hall Rd
Thomasville, GA 31757
(229) 226-7060

Georgia Pines Mental Health
Eric C Fan
1102 Smith Ave
STE M
Thomasville, GA 31792
(229) 227-5426

Georgia Pines Mental Health
Michael Bernard Vandewalle
1102 Smith Ave
STE M
Thomasville, GA 31792
(229) 227-5426

Family Life Center
Henry Alamzan Eugenio
602 Victoria Pl
Thomasville, GA 31792
(229) 225-9050

Karuna D Reddy MD
Karuna D Reddy
303 Shirley Ave
STE A
Douglas, GA 31533
(912) 383-8806

Renaissance Centre
Sasi K Nayudu
506 N Jackson St
Albany, GA 31701
(229) 889-7200

Renaissance Centre
Prema V Sanne
506 N Jackson St
Albany, GA 31701
(229) 889-7200

Behavioral Health
Winston Pineda
500 3rd Ave
STE 105
Albany, GA 31701
(229) 312-7001

Behavioral Health
Stephen S Yost
500 3rd Ave
STE 105
Albany, GA 31701
(229) 312-7001

South Georgia Neurological Associates
William E Coleman
1211 Palmyra Rd
Albany, GA 31707
(229) 439-8686

Valdosta, Georgia

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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 Valdosta

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Valdosta Hospitals *

South Georgia Medical Center
2501 N Patterson St
Valdosta, GA 31602
(229)333-1000

Greenleaf Center Valdosta
2209 Pineview Dr
Valdosta, GA 31602
(229)247-4357

Smith Northview Hospital
4280 N Valdosta Rd
Valdosta, GA 31602
(229)671-2000

Brooks County Hospital
903 N Court St
Quitman, GA 31643
(229)263-4171

Louis Smith Memorial Hospital
852 W Thigpen Ave
Lakeland, GA 31635
(229)482-3110

Memorial Hospital of Adel
706 N Parrish Ave
Adel, GA 31620
(229)896-8000

Berrien County Hospital
1221 E McPherson St
Nashville, GA 31639
(229)543-7100

Madison County Memorial Hospital
309 NE Marion St
Madison, FL 32340
(850)973-2271

Trinity Community Hospital
506 NW 4th St
Jasper, FL 32052
(386)792-7200

Turning Point Hospital
3015 E Veterans Pkwy S
Moultrie, GA 31788
(229)985-4815

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