Assessing for depression in older people.
Perceptions about what constitutes depression contribute to poor know edge of the condition amongst non-psychiatric medica and nurs ng staff. Stereotypes about ageing and depression go some way to explaining why depression remains under-recognised and under addressed in older people. This paper highlights some of the factors that contribute to the missed or misdiagnosis of depression. It also makes explicit some of the issues surrounding diagnosis and management of the disorder. The importance of a good health history and an appreciation of the adverse effects of drugs are identified as important in assisting to diagnose this treatable condition.
Harding
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Department of Nursing Inquiry and Practice, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D008487:Medical History Taking; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013240:Stereotyping; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data