Symptoms:

Many of the usual symptoms of depression may be present in the elderly. See: Depression - major for more details.

Depression in the elderly may be hard to detect. Common symptoms such as fatigue, appetite loss, and trouble sleeping can be part of the aging process or a physical illness. As a result, early depression may be ignored, or confused with other conditions that are common in the elderly.

Clues to depression in the elderly may include:

• Being more confused or forgetful.
• Eating less. The refrigerator may be empty or contain spoiled food.
• Not bathing or shaving as often. Visitors may notice smells of urine or stool. Clothes may be dirty and wrinkled.
• Not taking care of the home.
• Stopping medicines or not taking them correctly.
• Withdrawing from others. Not talking as much, and not answering the phone or returning phone calls.

Signs and tests:

A discussion of your symptoms, physical exam, and blood and urine tests will help determine if a physical illness is causing the depression.

Sometimes your primary care doctor will send you to an expert in depression, such as a psychiatrist, to help with diagnosis and treatment. This may be especially useful for telling the difference between depression and normal grieving, which occurs more often in this age group.