Many people never tell their doctors about the sadness or nervousness they re experiencing. Others try to mask their symptoms with alcohol a strategy that can result in disaster. The most prevalent problem experienced by the elderly is depression, accounting for a higher rate of suicide among seniors than any other age group. But depression isn t normal at any age. Other conditions such as anxiety, obsessive- compulsive disorders and phobias also trap older people in a downward spiral of isolation and despair.
Older people come from a generation where mental health problems weren t discussed.
The next step is to find an expert in geriatric psychiatry. Typically, their problems are interwoven with health and medication concerns, as well as social and family issues. For UCI Medical Center s Geropsychiatric Program, the process begins with a patient history, a thorough physical examination, a pharmacological evaluation and mental assessments. Once the problem is pinpointed, the next step may be medication, psychotherapy, nutritional changes or other approaches. The Geropsychiatric Program provides all the mental health and medical services older people need.