Robin Dwarka, BSc, BAA
The incidence of depression among the elderly has been widely documented in recent studies. Approximately 2% of the population over 65 years of age who remain in the community have major depression, while up to 15% show significant depressive symptoms. In institutional settings, the figures jump to over 10% having major depression, and symptoms.
With the proportion of Canadians over 65 growing rapidly, recognition and treatment of depression in senior citizens is of growing concern.
Recognizing depression in the elderly poses a unique problem because of its symptomatic links to Alzheimer's Disease (AD), according to geriatric psychiatrist Dr. Richard Shulman of Sunnybrook Health Science Centre in Toronto.
