Psychiatric Disorders this section includes Chapter 32. Substance Abuse and Dependence Chapter 33. A disorder characterized by feelings of sadness and despair and ranging in severity from mild to life threatening.
Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders among the elderly.
The current cohort between ages 70 and 90 years has had fewer severe depressive episodes in adult life than earlier cohorts. The number of cases is expected to increase substantially over the next 20 to 30 years as younger cohorts, who have a higher prevalence of depression than the current elderly cohort, age. Suicide rates do not increase with age among women. The elderly are less likely than younger patients to seek or respond to offers of help designed to prevent suicide. The elderly make fewer suicide gestures but more often succeed at suicide attempts.