Depression in old age: A narrative review
Keywords:
Depression, Old man, Aging, Quality of lifeAbstract
This article presents the study on depression in old age, this disorder can affect older people, since there are several factors that can cause depression in old age, in which many go through changes and grief, bringing with them feelings of helplessness. However, the family or even the elderly person does not realize that this disease is present. Depression has become common among the elderly population. The aim of this research is to describe the presence of depression in old age and to analyze what can be done to avoid or reduce this symptomatic event. This is a narrative review study, characterized as descriptive with a qualitative approach, which is a type of review research. Data collection was carried out through articles, being relevant studies using electronic databases such as: Scientific Electronic Library (Scielo), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (Lilacs), National Library of Medicine of the United States (PubMed), Virtual Health Library (Bvsalud). ), thus defining descriptors and keywords such as: depression, aging, aging and quality of life, according to Descriptors in Science (DECS). The results show that at this stage of life, the increase in the consumption of medications and chronic diseases, together with the reduction of work, less interaction with other individuals and the feeling of disability influence a worse perception of health and the appearance of depressive symptoms, so that such an association may present a possible bidirectionality.
