DEPRESIÓN EN PERSONAS MAYORES: FISIOPATOLOGÍA, FACTORES DE RIESGO Y ENFOQUES TERAPÉUTICOS
Resumen
El envejecimiento de la población ha contribuido al aumento de la depresión en las personas mayores, una condición prevalente que con frecuencia se subdiagnostica y tiene un impacto significativo en la calidad de vida. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la fisiopatología, los factores de riesgo y los enfoques terapéuticos de la depresión en esta población. Se trata de una revisión bibliográfica integradora, con un enfoque cualitativo, realizada en las bases de datos Literatura Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Ciencias de la Salud y PubMed/Medline, incluyendo publicaciones entre 2016 y 2026, con un total de 29 estudios. Los hallazgos indican que la depresión en las personas mayores tiene una etiología multifactorial, que involucra alteraciones neurobiológicas y factores psicosociales. Factores como la edad avanzada, las comorbilidades, el aislamiento social y la polifarmacia aumentan la vulnerabilidad. La evidencia sugiere una mayor efectividad de la combinación de intervenciones farmacológicas y no farmacológicas. Se concluye que la depresión en las personas mayores requiere un manejo interdisciplinario e individualizado. Se destaca la importancia de la identificación temprana de los factores de riesgo y la integración de estrategias terapéuticas basadas en la evidencia, con el fin de promover la calidad de vida y un envejecimiento saludable.
Biografía del autor/a
Estudiante de Medicina de la Facultad de Medicina de Marília (FAMEMA).
Estudiante de Medicina de la Facultad de Medicina de Marília (FAMEMA).
Estudiante de Medicina de la Facultad de Medicina de Marília (FAMEMA).
Estudiante de Medicina de la Facultad de Medicina de Marília (FAMEMA).
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