If your doctor is not competent enough to administer this test, then seek out one who is. Insist on a similar test if taken to the hospital. A recent Case Western Reserve University survey found that 30 percent of elderly patients who presented themselves to the hospital emergency room met the researchers' criteria for depression, but only 27 percent of these were recognized by the emergency room physicians and only 13 percent were referred for further evaluation. Take any talk or idea of suicide very seriously. Elderly people are far more likely than the rest of the population to follow through.
Depression is twice as rampant in nursing homes as elsewhere.
There may be physical or other causes of actual depressive symptoms, including low blood pressure, hypothyroidism, Parkinson's disease or the side-effects from its medications, as well as grieving the loss of loved ones. Antidepressants should be prescribed according to one's individual needs, if possible. Zoloft has perhaps fewer drug interactions. Paxil tends to be more sedating, which can help those who have trouble sleeping. Wellbutrin and Serzone must be taken twice a day, but they don't cause the sexual side effects or disruption of REM sleep associated with other medicines.