How to recognize and get help for depression

DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: Where can I find help for depression? My husband, who’s 68, has become lethargic and very irritable over the past year, and I’m concerned that he’s depressed.

DEAR WORRIED: Depression is unfortunately a widespread problem among U.S. seniors, affecting approximately 15 percent of the 65-andolder population. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips and resources for screening and treatments.

Everyone feels sad or gets the blues now and then, but when these feelings linger more than a few weeks, it may be depression.

Depression is a real illness that affects mood, feelings, behavior and physical health contrary to what many people believe, it’s not a normal part of aging or a personal weakness, but it is very treatable.

It’s also important to know that depression is not just sadness. In many seniors it can manifest as apathy, irritability, or problems with memory or concentration without the depressed mood. lessness.

Trouble concentrating, remembering or making decisions.

Feeling anxious, restless or irritable.

Loss of energy or motivation.

Inability to sleep or sleeping too much.

eating or eating too much.

Thoughts about dying or suicide. Some medications, for example, can produce side effects that mimic depressive symptoms — pain and sleeping meds are common culprits. It’s also important to distinguish between depression and dementia, which can share some of the same symptoms.

If he’s diagnosed with depression, there are a variety of treatment options, including talk therapy, antidepressant medications or a combination of both.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a particularly effective type of talk therapy, which helps patients recognize and change destructive thinking patterns that leads to negative feelings.

For help finding a therapist who’s trained in CBT, ask your doctor for a referral, check your local yellow pages under “counseling” or “psychologists,” or check with the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (abct.org), or the Academy of Cognitive Therapy (academyofct. org).

Another treatment worth mentioning is a relatively new procedure called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). This FDA-approved treatment uses a small electromagnet placed on the scalp right behind the left forehead, and delivers a tiny electric current to the part of the brain linked to depression. TMS is currently available in about 420 psychiatrist offices around the country (see neurostartms.com) and is very effective for older patients.

Savvy tip: The National Institute of Mental Health offers a variety of free publications on depression that you can order at infocenter.nimh.nih.gov, or call (866) 615-6464.