By Maureen DAVISSEAU, Helene JOSSE & Floriane PAPIN.
Introduction:
Here, we decided to present one of our brochures from last year. This pamphlet introduces the pathology of depression in an elderly population. First of all, we will take up the important information that was provided in this document. Then we will return to the interest of having chosen this subject.
1.Useful vocabulary / Words we have learned
Pamphlet : Brochure
Depression in the elderly : dépression chez les personnes âgées
Depreciation : dévalorisation = dépréciation
Mental pain : douleur psychique
Mourning : deuil
2.Contents of the pamphlet.
“Old age” and “depression” are often associated in the collective imagination. In fact, it reveals an amalgam between the tragic end of existence and a pathological condition (Gallarda & Lôo, 2009). Often, the elderly themselves do not know the symptoms or refuse to see them, and are afraid or ashamed to talk about them (Clic, 2012). But depression is not one of the consequences of normal aging (Thomas & Hazif-Thomas, 2008). Depression in the elderly is a frequent pathology. Among those over 65, the prevalence of depression is about 15% (Thomas & Hazif-Thomas, 2008). In retirement home, the prevalence is close to 40% (Gallarda, 2014). However, this pathology remains undiagnosed in 70% of cases (Baudry, 2019). An important point to highlight is that one in four deaths is suicide in people over 65, and this may be a consequence of untreated depression.
A little reminder about depression seems important. This pathology is characterized by a daily depressed mood, like feeling sad, empty, hopeless, as well as a significant decrease in interest and pleasure for all activities. Moreover, depression also consists of symptoms such as fatigue or loss of energy, changes in appetite or weight, sleeping disorder, excessive feeling of depreciation and guilt, suicidal thoughts or suicide attempt… (DSM-V). Nevertheless, depression has a particular clinical translation with age. The sadness is not always apparent, and the mental pain is rarely expressed (Thomas & Hazif-Thomas, 2008). Other specific signs in depression in the elderly can be: subjective complaints, like increased or unexplained pain, feeling of intellectual impairment, or feeling of loss of memory; anxiety and worries; isolation and rejection of others and activities; feeling of uselessness; apathy; irritability; loss of interest for oneself and for own care (Baudry, 2019 ; Clic, 2012 ; Thomas & Hazif-Thomas, 2008).
Moreover, the ricks factors for the onset of depression in the elderly are various and complex. They can be organic, psychological and social. The most common are: isolation and loneliness; absence of goals and objectives in life; health or medical problems; recent or repeated mourning; financial, marital, and family problems; fears, about death or health; stress and anxiety; medicine (Clic, 2012).
Some recommendations exist for people who are concerned about depression in the elderly. For depressed elderly person, it is recommended to leave home, stay in contact with others, keep doing the hobbies they like, take a pet, keep a good diet, get some exercise… For those who want to help a depressive person, the recommendations are to invite him to go out, organize social activities, prepare some balanced meals, encourage her to follow her treatment, make sure all medications are taken properly, and watch for signs of suicidal intent.
Psychotherapy, cognitive and behavioral therapies, and support groups are examples of existing therapies that can help people to cope and overcome this depressive episode. These therapies can complement a drug treatment and are particularly effective. For that, it’s possible to contact the closest medico-psychological center, or a self-employed.
3.The interests and objectives of this brochure.
Who the pamphlet is intended for?
This pamphlet is intended for all audience who want or need information about depression in the elderly. It can be for people who don’t know what depression is and particularly on an elderly population, or directly for the elderly who suffer from depressive symptoms and doesn’t know specifically how this pathology is characterized, or even for someone who had close family member or close friend who present that kind of symptoms.
Why it is needed?
This pamphlet is needed because of the prevalence of this pathology in the retirement home which amounts to 40%, and even more because of the 70% of undiagnosed cases. This is one of the reasons why we chose this pathology on this population. Like we present it in the title of the pamphlet, depression in the elderly in unknown, and insufficiently diagnosed and treated. In our society, the values are turning more and more around youth, dynamism, “good vibes”… There is a certain distance with aging, which is frequently considered like boring. Moreover, the representation we have on aging goes hand in hand with bad mood, sadness, and also a certain apathy. So, there is a tendency to minimize their appearance and their presence. We think it is important to replace the pathological characteristic of recurrent negative feelings and behaviours. Positive feelings are also very important in aging, promoting the well-being of the person. In our opinion, if we consider and treat more the depressive problems in the elderly, and in retirement home, this can had good repercussions on their mood, on caregivers work, and on the representation of aging, and retirement home.
What did we take into account to make it?
We have chosen to make an informative pamphlet, suitable for all. For it, we have decided to present, in a simple language, the main diagnostic criteria of depression, and then, those which are specific to depression in the elderly, with the aim that people can identify them, recognize them. Also, we found important to present some non-exhaustive risks factors in which people are able to recognize themselves or a loved one. The few tools presented allow a depressive person or a person who want to help a depressive person to act by taking simple decisions. Finally, we briefly introduced the existing therapies. The main goal was to give information and make it possible for an extensive audience to identify the principal signs of depression.
Bibliography:
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders DSM-5 (5e éd.). Arlington, VA : American Psychiatric Publishing
Dépression.fr (https://www.depression.fr/)
Baudry, C. (2019). La dépression des personnes âgées, une maladie insidieuse. Spotted at : https://www.santemagazine.fr/sante/maladies/maladies-mentales/depression/la-depression-des-personnes-agees-une-maladie-insidieuse-177992
Gallarda, T. (2014). Dépression et personnes âgées. Spotted at : https://www.fondationpierredeniker.org/uploads/factSheets/3ce76a2283291fdd94dae481e47e49eeb63c6063.pdf
Gallarda, T., & Lôo, H. (2009). Dépression et personnes âgées. L’Encéphale, 35(3), 269–280.
Milowski, O., Mariceau, K., Vanderhaegen, M-C. (2016). La dépression chez les Personnes Âgées : en savoir plus pour prévenir et accompagner. Spotted at : http://www.clicmetropolenordouest.fr/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Depression.pdf
Thomas, P. & Hazif-Thomas, C. (2008). Les nouvelles approches de la dépression de la personne âgée. Gérontologie et société, vol. 31 / 126(3), 141-155