DEPRESSION IN THE ELDERLY: CONTRIBUTING FACTORS AND THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS - A LITERATURE REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47820/recima21.v5i6.5383Keywords:
Depression in the elderly. Contributing factors. Therapeutic interventions. Prevalence. Treatment.Abstract
Depression in the elderly is a significant public health problem, affecting 10% to 15% of this population globally. Biological, psychological, and social factors, including neurochemical changes, significant losses, and social isolation, aggravated by chronic comorbidities, contribute to this picture. Objective: This article aims to conduct a literature review on the factors contributing to depression in the elderly and the most effective therapeutic interventions. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted in databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, covering publications from 2004 to 2024. Inclusion criteria included original studies and reviews on depression in the elderly, in English, Portuguese or Spanish. Case reports, editorials, and studies focused on other medical conditions were excluded. Results and Discussion: The prevalence of depression in the elderly is influenced by socioeconomic conditions, social support, and physical health. Biological factors include neurochemical and hormonal changes, while psychological factors encompass significant losses and physical and cognitive decline. Social isolation is a critical factor. Chronic comorbidities aggravate the risk of depression and complicate treatment. Pharmacological interventions, such as antidepressants, are effective but require careful management. Psychosocial therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and reminiscence therapy, are essential, as are social support programs and community activities. Conclusion: Depression in the elderly requires a multifaceted and integrated approach, combining pharmacological and psychosocial treatments with social support. Public health policies should promote the mental health of the elderly, investing in social support programs and training of specialized professionals.
Downloads
References
AHMADPANAH, Mohammad et al. Detached mindfulness reduced both depression and anxiety in elderly women with major depressive disorders. Psychiatry research, v. 257, p. 87-94, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.07.030
ALEXOPOULOS, George S. Mechanisms and treatment of late-life depression. Translational psychiatry, v. 9, n. 1, p. 188, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-019-0514-6
ALMEIDA, Osvaldo P. et al. Depression, antidepressants and the risk of cardiovascular events and death in older men. Maturitas, v. 128, p. 4-9, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2019.06.009
ALMEIDA, Osvaldo P. Prevention of depression in older age. Maturitas, v. 79, n. 2, p. 136-141, 2014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.03.005
ASSIL, S. M.; ZEIDAN, Z. A. Prevalence of depression and associated factors among elderly Sudanese: a household survey in Khartoum State. EMHJ-Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, v. 19, n. 5, p. 435-440, 2013. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26719/2013.19.5.435
CACIOPPO, John T.; HAWKLEY, Louise C.; THISTED, Ronald A. Perceived social isolation makes me sad: 5-year cross-lagged analyses of loneliness and depressive symptomatology in the Chicago Health, Aging, and Social Relations Study. Psychology and aging, v. 25, n. 2, p. 453, 2010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017216
CASEY, David A. Depression in older adults: a treatable medical condition. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice, v. 44, n. 3, p. 499-510, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2017.04.007
CORRÊA, Mariana Lima et al. Depression in the elderly of a rural region in Southern Brazil. Ciencia & Saude Coletiva, v. 25, p. 2083-2092, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232020256.18392018
DEPRESSION, W. H. O. Other common mental disorders: global health estimates. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2017.
DINIZ, Breno S. et al. Late-life depression and risk of vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease: systematic review and meta-analysis of community-based cohort studies. The British Journal of Psychiatry, v. 202, n. 5, p. 329-335, 2013. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.112.118307
FIGEE, Martijn et al. Deep brain stimulation induces striatal dopamine release in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Biological psychiatry, v. 75, n. 8, p. 647-652, 2014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.06.021
GABRYELEWICZ, T. et al. Prevalence of major and minor depression in elderly persons with mild cognitive impairment—MADRS factor analysis. International journal of geriatric psychiatry, v. 19, n. 12, p. 1168-1172, 2004. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.1235
HELVIK, Anne-Sofie et al. A psychometric evaluation of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for the medically hospitalized elderly. Nordic journal of psychiatry, v. 65, n. 5, p. 338-344, 2011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3109/08039488.2011.560684
JONGENELIS, Keith et al. Prevalence and risk indicators of depression in elderly nursing home patients: the AGED study. Journal of affective disorders, v. 83, n. 2-3, p. 135-142, 2004. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2004.06.001
KASTENSCHMIDT, Erin K.; KENNEDY, Gary J. Depression and anxiety in late life: diagnostic insights and therapeutic options. Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine: A Journal of Translational and Personalized Medicine, v. 78, n. 4, p. 527-545, 2011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/msj.20266
KOPF, Daniel; HEWER, Walter. Prevention of depression in old age: individual and societal relevance. Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie, v. 57, n. 3, p. 175-178, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-024-02306-3
KULLBERG, Marie-Louise et al. Parental bonding: Psychometric properties and association with lifetime depression and anxiety disorders. Psychological Assessment, v. 32, n. 8, p. 780, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0000864
LEVIN, O. S.; VASENINA, E. E. Depression and cognitive decline in elderly: causes and consequences. Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii Imeni SS Korsakova, v. 119, n. 7, p. 87-94, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17116/jnevro201911907187
LOPRESTI, Adrian L. et al. Curcumin for the treatment of major depression: a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled study. Journal of affective disorders, v. 167, p. 368-375, 2014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2014.06.001
LYNESS, Jeffrey M. et al. Outcomes of minor and subsyndromal depression among elderly patients in primary care settings. Annals of internal medicine, v. 144, n. 7, p. 496-504, 2006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-144-7-200604040-00008
MAIER, Alexander et al. Risk factors and protective factors of depression in older people 65+. A systematic review. PloS one, v. 16, n. 5, p. e0251326, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251326
MERDJANOFF, Alexis A. et al. Housing transitions and recovery of older adults following Hurricane Sandy. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, v. 74, n. 6, p. 1041-1052, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gby126
PARK, Mijung; UNÜTZER, Jürgen. Geriatric depression in primary care. Psychiatric Clinics, v. 34, n. 2, p. 469-487, 2011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2011.02.009
SALK, Rachel H.; HYDE, Janet S.; ABRAMSON, Lyn Y. Gender differences in depression in representative national samples: Meta-analyses of diagnoses and symptoms. Psychological bulletin, v. 143, n. 8, p. 783, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000102
SEIDLER, Zac E. et al. The role of masculinity in men's help-seeking for depression: a systematic review. Clinical psychology review, v. 49, p. 106-118, 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2016.09.002
SJÖBERG, Linnea et al. Prevalence of depression: Comparisons of different depression definitions in population-based samples of older adults. Journal of affective disorders, v. 221, p. 123-131, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.06.011
SUN, X. et al. Depressive costs: medical expenditures on depression and depressive symptoms among rural elderly in China. Public Health, v. 181, p. 141-150, 2020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2019.12.011
TAKEDA, Masatoshi; TANAKA, Toshihisa. Depression in the elderly. Geriatrics & gerontology international, v. 10, n. 4, p. 277-279, 2010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0594.2010.00644.x
TAYLOR, Warren D. Depression in the elderly. New England journal of medicine, v. 371, n. 13, p. 1228-1236, 2014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp1402180
TIONG, Wei Wei et al. Prevalence and risk factors of depression in the elderly nursing home residents in Singapore. Aging & mental health, v. 17, n. 6, p. 724-731, 2013. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2013.775638
VINK, Dagmar; AARTSEN, Marja J.; SCHOEVERS, Robert A. Risk factors for anxiety and depression in the elderly: a review. Journal of affective disorders, v. 106, n. 1-2, p. 29-44, 2008. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2007.06.005
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2024 RECIMA21 - Revista Científica Multidisciplinar - ISSN 2675-6218
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Os direitos autorais dos artigos/resenhas/TCCs publicados pertecem à revista RECIMA21, e seguem o padrão Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0), permitindo a cópia ou reprodução, desde que cite a fonte e respeite os direitos dos autores e contenham menção aos mesmos nos créditos. Toda e qualquer obra publicada na revista, seu conteúdo é de responsabilidade dos autores, cabendo a RECIMA21 apenas ser o veículo de divulgação, seguindo os padrões nacionais e internacionais de publicação.
