Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Depression Among the Elderly

In addition to the physical aches and pains associated with getting older, many elderly Americans also suffer from mental and emotional problems as well.  This may include loneliness, anxiety, or depression.  A recent study testing the effect of a certain drug to aid in depressive symptoms in seniors offered a little background information as well.

The article stated that depression, a known and relatively common psychological diagnosis, affects over 120 million people all over the globe.  It is estimated that depression also affects almost 20% of America's seniors--that's about 6.5 million people.  Additionally, depression is a leading cause of disability and the 4th leading contributor to the global burden of disease in 2000.  Depression is a difficult disease, since it can impact patients in a variety of ways.  The feelings of depressing may ebb and flow, or may be consistent.  They might also affect a person physically as well as mentally and could lead to digestive disorders.  In the most severe cases, depression may also lead to suicidal thoughts or actions. 

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a central Pennsylvania lawyer specializing in nursing home abuse and negligence.  For more information on his practice, please visit our website.

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