4 Common Mental Illnesses Among the Elderly (And How to Treat Them)
It’s okay to talk about your mental health. In recent decades, the stigma surrounding the discussion of one’s mental health has mostly gone away. With this progress, so too has progress been made in the study of mental illnesses in seniors.
According to Dr. Jean Goodwin, disorders, such as depression and paranoia, “are more likely to occur in a patient older than 65 years of age and are less likely to be accurately diagnosed and treated than in younger patients.”
Empowered by new information, it’s up to us to recognize these disorders and treat them effectively. Here are some of the most common mental illnesses that seniors suffer from and how to best address them.
Bipolar Disorder
More commonly diagnosed in young adults, cases of bipolar disorder are expected to rise in the U.S. among the elderly population. Late onset bipolar disorder is one of the most difficult mental illnesses to diagnose, because it’s often dismissed as an aspect of aging or misinterpreted as a side effect of a variety of medications.
For this reason, it’s important to diagnose bipolar disorder accurately. If you or someone you love is experiencing agitation, hyperactivity, distractibility and/or loss of memory, judgment, or perception, be sure to contact a doctor and schedule a psychiatric assessment. Should you or your loved one be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, treatments may include: medications, day treatment programs and hospitalization.
Depression
Depression is the most commonly diagnosed mental illness among the elderly population and, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), “depression is both underdiagnosed and undertreated in primary care settings.”
Social isolation, retiring from a job and the death of a spouse are all common experiences for seniors and are common causes of depression. Often written off as “feeling down,” depression is not something to be ignored. If you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of depression, schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor. Treatment for depression may include the prescription of antidepressants and/or therapy.
Schizophrenia
In spite of it being one of the less-understood mental health disorders, 20 million people worldwide are living with schizophrenia. Typically experienced by people under the age of 45, schizophrenia can still be experienced by people of any age. Late onset schizophrenia is a severe mental illness in seniors and is typified by having hallucinations, hearing voices and experiencing delusions.
Despite the alarming symptoms, there is good news; once substances like drugs and alcohol are ruled out, schizophrenia is usually easy to diagnose and there are medications available. Medications may be the main form of treatment when it comes to schizophrenia and antipsychotics are the most commonly prescribed drugs.
Anxiety
Like depression, anxiety is an extremely common and underdiagnosed mental illness in seniors. Anxiety can take many different forms, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder.
When diagnosing anxiety, pinpointing an exact disorder can be difficult, especially when the individual is also experiencing physical symptoms. Be on the lookout for these symptoms in the elderly: irrational, obsessive, or catastrophic thoughts; isolating behavior and withdrawal from others; irritability or agitated moods; and fatigue or muscle soreness. Treatment can vary but may involve the prescription of anti-anxiety medication and/or psychotherapy.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and all the more reason to ensure that you and your loved ones are mentally well. For more information about mental illnesses, please contact your primary care provider or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.
