Overview

Depression in the elderly population is a common problem. Elderly depression may have some differences in cause and response to treatment when compared to depression in other age groups. For example, the functions of neurotransmitters (the brain’s chemical messengers) such as serotonin change with age. And, changes in the cardiovascular system (made up of the heart and the blood vessels) with age also appear to be linked to depression.

By GLORIA GALLOWAY

One in four older teenage girls will suffer at least one major depressive episode within the next four years and there is a strong correlation between depression and smoking, a new study by researchers at the University of Alberta has found.

It has long been known that females between 13 and 65 are twice as likely as males to suffer from depression, said Nancy Galambos, lead author of the study in the latest edition of the International Journal of Behavioural Development.

Public Gets the Message: Pain Not Just Physical

A major goal of a public education campaign on the link between depression and physical pain is to encourage Americans to talk to their doctors about their mood and painful physical symptoms.
The American Psychiatric Foundation is among the physician and advocacy groups sponsoring a new public service campaign to educate Americans about an often underrecognized side of depression: physical pain.

Cape Town - Hundreds of matriculants have contacted an anti-suicide support group and the number of calls is expected to increase once results have been released, said the manager of one such helpline on Monday.