Chapter 56: Depression in Diverse Populations & Older Adults

INTRODUCTION

Anxiety symptoms are often common among depressed individuals. Among older adults, cognitive impairment may be associated with depression. Within various cultures, depression can manifest with more somatic symptoms rather than mood symptoms.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Mental health is an essential part of overall health. Unfortunately, some demographic groups are at increased risk for having unmet mental health needs, including children and youth, older adults, and members of medically underserved racial and ethnic groups. Because these groups are most likely to seek treatment for their mental health problems in primary care settings, it is essential that primary care physicians and other allied health practitioners be skilled in providing high-quality mental health services.

Depression is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. It is a highly prevalent condition, affecting 35% of patients seen in primary care settings, and its prevalence in all age groups has been increasing in recent years. The most common age of onset is between 25 and 35 years of age, and an earlier age of onset of depression is associated with worse prognosis and functional impairment over time. Depression is twice as common among women as men, and African American and Hispanic individuals with a diagnosis of depression are less likely to receive mental health services compared to their white counterparts, as older adults are less likely to receive mental health services compared to younger adults.

Depression is a highly comorbid condition, particularly in later life. Medical illness and disability–more common in the elderly–are risk factors for depression. Depression diminishes quality of life, leads to nonadherence with self-care and treatment recommendations, increases the use of medical services, and is associated with cognitive impairment in adults. Furthermore, depression is often associated with medical and social complexity–patients with depression often have multiple chronic conditions, poor socioeconomic status, and poor social support, which, in turn, increase the risk of developing depression. Major psychosocial risk factors for depression include bereavement, caregiver strain, social isolation, disability, chronic medical illness, and role transitions.