Depression in the Elderly Person: What are the Main Causes?

Depression in the Elderly Person: What are the Main Causes?

This session outlines the internal factors, such as genetic predisposition along with external factors such as death and reactions to loss which contribute to 'Depression in the Elderly Person'. The vulnerability of the older person to develop depression related to poly-pharmacy and the ageing body ‘vascular depression’ are described and discussed. The high occurrence of depression in older people diagnosed with dementia is explored in terms of the bio-psychosocial aspects of this disease in this informative session.

The main concepts explored in this session are:

• Causes of depression in elderly people
• Internal factors
• External factors
• Poly-pharmacy
• Dementia

Hugh Irons

Hugh Irons is a mental health nurse consultant and educator with extensive hospital and community based experience as a clinician and teacher.  Hugh has a Master of Nursing Degree (Community Health) as well as an impressive record as a teacher of communication skills and mental health topics. In addition, is a member of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses and is the author of the publication entitled: Counselling and Interviewing for Carers: A Basic Guide.

Speaker name: Hugh Irons
Recorded: 23/03/2010
Listening time: 20 minutes
Conference: Depression and the Elderly
Session in Conference: The Scourge of Depression in the Elderly (Part 1)
State: Melbourne, Australia

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