In a series of conversations that began following the death of comedian Robin Williams, Kate Lochte examines facets of depression with Murray State University assistant professor of psychology, Dr. Michael Bordieri. The National Institute of Mental Health's website says, "depression is a common problem for older adults, but it is not a normal part of aging." This time, the conversation focuses on what depression looks like in this demographic.
Dr. Michael Bordieri says between 5-10% of adults meet criteria for major depressive disorder in a given year. Depressive episodes can come from a variety of factors, such as struggling with or addressing end of life issues, a loss of interest in (or inability to perform) physical activities and the loss of friends and loved ones.
Younger people tend to have a feeling of invulnerability, putting off addressing or preparing for death. But eventually that time comes and one must reflect on their life as they prepare for death. It eventually becomes a reality one must face rather than an abstract thought. In this transition, Dr. Bordieri says, depressive symptoms can surface.
A loss of interest in activities is a natural part of aging. Dr. Bordieri calls this the "what now?" This comes up in people who are retired or are approaching retirement. Shifting from working 40-plus hours a week to virtually no consistent plans can prompt low mood and low energy. Behavior activation therapy is one solution for this transition, where one would develop patterns of enjoyable activities from aerobics to exercise to games or social visits. Also, technology can be a solution - starting a blog online or speaking at schools.
When approaching therapies for young people, there's often an emphasis on possibilities and the future: circumstances can change and great things can happen. While that's not completely reversed in older adults, the focus is shifted. Instead of finding the ability to do amazing things in the future, the focus is more of finding ways to dignify and identify purpose in reflecting over one's life, garnering an attitude of acceptance.
Medicaid is now expanding to cover psychological therapy for nursing home residents and are getting better at integrating psychologists into those settings. The opportunity to address depression in older adults becoming easier and therapists are better able to provide effective treatments.
This is the tenth in a series of conversations about depression with Dr. Michael Bordieri, assistant professor of psychology at Murray State. These conversations are informational-only and should not be construed as any form of psychotherapy, counseling, diagnosis or treatment. Any health condition, including depression, should be evaluated and treated by a qualified professional in the context of an established professional relationship.
The next discussion airs on January 27, with a focus on answering questions and getting into some small topics.
