Mental illness in senior citizens: significance and special features

Abstract

As the population of seniors increases, the number of those who suffer mental illness increases as well. Seniors suffer the effects of loss and isolation more frequently than other segments of the population, especially through the death of a spouse and friends, loss of profession through retirement and loss of familiar roles. They also deal with a greater amount of illness as more than 75% of those over 70 years old experience at least five physical ailments or impediments. The burden of care falls on those most closely related to the senior, especially so in cases of dementia. With age comes an increased risk of cognitive impairment, which is important to recognize and address. Compared with the general population, there is a higher rate of suicide and depression among seniors. Treatment through medication and psychotherapy needs to increase. The makeup of today's seniors is psychologically quite different from that of the previous generation; this is especially true for women. The seniors of this generation will advance their demands for a better quality of living, which with regard to their emotional and spiritual well-being will likely result in an increased demand for psychotherapy.

Keywords Old age psychiatry; Old age psychotherapy; Dementia; Depression; Review.