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Depresión en los ancianos - Información general

Definición:

La depresión es un padecimiento médico en el cual una persona tiene sentimientos de tristeza, desmotivación y pérdida de la autoestima.

Causas, incidencia y factores de riesgo:

La depresión puede ser causada por la pérdida del cónyuge o de un amigo cercano, dolores y enfermedades crónicas, dificultad para movilizarse, frustración por la pérdida de la memoria, dificultad para adaptarse a circunstancias cambiantes como la mudanza del hogar a un ancianato, o cambios dentro de la familia.

La depresión también puede ser signo de un problema médico y puede complicarse por trastornos cerebrales que ocurren con la edad, como la enfermedad de Alzheimer.

La depresión en las personas de edad avanzada es un problema muy generalizado al que usualmente no se le hace diagnóstico y con frecuencia se le da un tratamiento inadecuado. Muchas personas mayores no confiesan que tienen signos y síntomas de depresión por miedo a ser juzgados como débiles o locos.

  • Fecha de revisión: 7/27/2007
  • Versión en inglés revisada por:Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and Psychiatry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
  • Traducción y localización realizada por: DrTango, Inc

Referencias

Screening for Depression Recommendations and Rationale. US Preventive Services Task Force, Guidelines from Guide to Clinical Preventive Services: 3rd ed. Rockville, Md. US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research; May 1, 2002.

Guide to Clinical Preventive Services: Screening for Depression, Recommendations and Rationale. Rockville, Md. US Preventive Services Task Force, Dept of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Ann Intern Med. 2002; 136(10): 760–764.

Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Major Depressive Disorder, 2nd ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association; 2000.

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