Anxiety and Depression in Older People: Diagnostic Challenges

Chew-Graham, Carolyn A.

Abstract

This chapter considers the presentation of anxiety and depression in older people and explores the challenges clinicians face in making a diagnosis in the face of multiple health problems. Depression is a major global public health threat, and by 2030, depressive disorders are predicted to be the second leading cause of disease burden and disability worldwide. Anxiety and depression commonly overlap or co-exist. Loneliness and depression are strongly associated in older people, and loneliness is an independent risk factor for depression. Depression and anxiety are more prevalent in people with long-term physical conditions, and untreated anxiety and depression leads to increased use of health and social care services and raised mortality.

This chapter discusses the challenges in making a diagnosis of anxiety and/or depression in the older person, particularly in people with co-morbid physical conditions and emphasises the importance of assessment of risk of self-harm and suicide in an older person with depression.

Two case studies are included to provide examples of the complexities of presentation of anxiety and depression in older people.

Citation

Chew-Graham, C. A. (2016). Anxiety and Depression in Older People: Diagnostic Challenges. In Mental Health and Older People (45-55). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29492-6_5

• Online Publication Date: May 18, 2016
• Publication Date: 2016
• Deposit Date: Nov 22, 2023
• Publisher: Springer
• Pages: 45-55
• Book Title: Mental Health and Older People
• Chapter Number: 5
• ISBN: 9783319294902; 9783319294926
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29492-6_5
• Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Older people; Long-term conditions; Diagnosis; Risk
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-29492-6_5