Mental health problems are common among seniors and may include isolation, affective and anxiety disorders, dementia, and psychosis, among others. Many seniors also suffer from sleep and behavioral disorders, cognitive deterioration or confusion states as a result of physical disorders or surgical interventions.

Research suggests that seniors benefit from supportive social connections and close personal relationships, but suffer as a result of disrupted personal ties and loneliness.

Health-care providers, especially those in primary care, can play a central role in promoting mental health for seniors by working with mental health professionals. In addition, older people should be encouraged to actively participate in their communities and in society at large.

Common Mental Health Disorders

Dementia

Dementia is a progressive syndrome which leads to a deterioration of thinking, memory and behavior, including the ability to perform routine activities. The WHO rightly points out that this is not necessarily a normal part of aging, rather it is more likely to occur in the elderly. The prevalence rates are 50 million people worldwide, and the projection is that the incidence will increase to 82 million by 2030 and 152 million in 2050.

Some of the causes of dementia have been identified as:

Alzheimer’s: the most common cause of dementia is a progressive brain disease that leads to various cognitive impairments that worsen over time. Chronic high blood pressure, blood vessel disease or stroke.
Parkinson’s disease, in severe and advanced stages.
Huntington’s disease: a genetic disorder signalled by mental dysfunction, altered personality, psychosis, and movement disturbance.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: a viral infection that leads to rapid and progressive dementia.

The symptoms of diseases related to the adrenal, thyroid, pituitary or other glands may also mimic the symptoms of dementia since these regulate memory, perception, emotions and thought processes.

Depression

Depression is one of those conditions that is often taken for granted because it is easily misunderstood as general tiredness, the result of having a bad day or experiencing a negative phase. The reality is that it is a debilitating mental health disorder that occurs in 7% of the older population, according to the WHO.

Depression in the elderly, commonly referred to as geriatric depression, may mirror the symptoms of a general depression diagnosis for any age group, and because the symptoms occur in conjunction with other illnesses, the disorder may go undiagnosed and untreated.

Types of depression vary and include major depression, persistent depressive disorder, bipolar disorder or seasonal affective disorder. Some of the common signs of depression to look out for are a persistent sad or anxious mood, feelings of worthlessness, helplessness or hopelessness, decreased energy, constant fatigue, irritability and loss of interest in pleasurable activities. It is worth noting that these feelings can occur in a person but not classify as depression; what sets the diagnosis apart is a severe, constant episode of the above symptoms that significantly interfere with daily functioning.

Anxiety

A study cited in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry reported that older adults might exhibit symptoms of anxiety that may not warrant a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder, but have a real impact on their ability to function normally. Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Specific Phobias are the most prevalent anxiety disorders, with social phobias, panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) being less common.

The key defining feature of an anxiety disorder is a constant, excessive worry about everyday events and issues which should not cause such severe uneasiness. Although it is normal for the elderly to worry about health problems and financial affairs, a constant state of worry is cause for concern. Medication and therapy can be very effective in helping the elderly cope with anxiety, and an effective treatment plan is instrumental in improving the quality of life.

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Common Mental Health Disorders

Dementia

Depression

Anxiety

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