What Are the Symptoms and Signs of Depression?
Symptoms of depression in older people can be quite varied and include any of the following: • depressed mood (feeling sad or unhappy) • lack of appetite and loss of weight n sleeplessness (early morning awakening) • decreased or no energy or feeling slowed down • problems with concentration or memory • feeling nervous or pacing/being fidgety • numerous vague bodily complaints such as aches or pains. • Additional symptoms include excessive worrying, preoccupation with guilt, feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness, thoughts of suicide, and frequent tearfulness. Why Is Treating Depression So Important? Treating depression is important because if left untreated it can greatly affect a person?s overall health, worsen other existing diseases (such as heart disease, lung disease, arthritis, or any other illness), and lead to high rates of health care use, which can be costly to the affected individual as well as to the health care system. Treating depression is especially important in the
