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| Vol. 23, No. 13 |
| July 15, 2001 |
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Depression is Not a Normal Part of Life, Memorial Hermann Can Help By JONATHAN LOWE Memorial Hermann Healthcare System Depression is not a normal part of aging, however, many elderly Americans or their caregivers don't take this disease seriously. The National Mental Health Association says late-life depression affects about 6 million Americans, mostly women, yet only 10 percent of these people ever receive treatment. In many cases depression is dismissed as the "blues" and goes untreated. Unlike the emotional experiences of sadness, grief, loss of or passing moods, depression can be extreme, persistent and can interfere significantly with one's ability to function. Depression not only removes the pleasure from daily life, it can also aggravate other medical conditions found in later life, and when overlooked it can lead to suicide. The good news is that clinical depression can be treated successfully in more than 80 percent of all cases. Major steps toward treatment include recognizing the symptoms and seeking help. Some symptoms of depression are feeling empty, nervous, guilty, irritable or worthless. Feeling like no one loves you, unusual sleeping patterns, losing interest in activities that you used to enjoy or having persistent headaches, stomachaches or chronic pain, may be other depression indicators. Memorial Hermann Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinics offer treatment for depression at three locations around Houston. Each clinic has a medical director, a program director, a nurse and several therapists. Education programs to treat people with depression include diagnosis comprehension and participation in therapy and process groups which address issues such as self-esteem, coping skills, crisis management, social skills, stress management, realistic goal setting, spirituality and positive decision making. Memorial Hermann Behavioral Health Services offer a 24-hour central access number, (713) 448-5551. "The number makes it easier for a senior, their family members or their primary care physician to get help for depression quickly," says Dr. Donald Hauser, medical director of the Memorial Hermann Southwest Outpatient Clinic. Dr. Hauser is board certified in psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry.
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