DEPRESSION IN THE ELDERLY CLINICAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL STUDY

Abstract

Depressive illness is common in the elderly and has recently become the focus of much research. The number of elderly population is now increasing as compared• to children and young adults and has led to an interest in the characteristics of this group of population especially their mental health problems which are considered a main cause of disability in old age. In addition to the mental suffering, depression is a risk factor for subsequent morbidity, excessive health care costs and in some instances actual mortality; e.g. untreated or undertreated depression in the elderly enhances the probability of suicide. The prognosis of late-onset depression relatively poor, and is characterized by frequent and prolonged relapses. So, studying the problem of depression in the elderly is important in psychiatric health care.