The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University

National Program on Women & Aging
 

Women & Aging Letter
Excerpt, January 1998
 

Identifying and Coping with Depression
Vol. 2, No. 5

What is Depression?

- Dr. Robert N. Butler, Mount Sinai Medical Center.

There is no single set of symptoms that indicate major depression. In general, diagnosing depression in an individual is an inexact science because everyone's experience of sadness and other symptoms of depression are highly subjective and variable.

Remember -- depression is not a normal part of aging, and it is a highly treatable disease. Older women are at a risk for depression because they often live through many losses and are more apt to develop chronic illnesses. Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate between the symptoms of a chronic illness and the symptoms that accompany depression.

Here is a list of the symptoms of Major Depression, adapted from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (4th edition, 1994). Most doctors use these criteria to diagnose major depression. If sympotms last at least two consecutive weeks, a diagnosis can be made.

  • Depressed mood for most of the day
  • Decreased interest or pleasure in daily activities
  • Significant weight loss or gain
  • Significant change in appetite (increase/ decrease)
  • Almost daily insomnia or hypersomnia
  • Observable slowness of movements or agitation
  • Almost daily fatigue and loss of energy
  • Almost daily feelings of worthlessness or guilt
  • Diminished ability to concentrate, indecision
  • Frequent thoughts of death or suicide

    • Test Yourself

    Here is a self-evaluation questionnaire often used by doctors to diagnose depression in their older patients.

    Take the "test"....and if you find you have a score of 5 or higher, you should make an appointment with your doctor. Tell your doctor about the test (print it if you can) and tell him or her about your feelings. Remember, depression is a highly treatable disorder.

    (Source: Sheik, J.I. and Yesavage, J.A.. Geriatric Depression Scale: Recent Evidence and Development of a Shorter Version. Clinical Gerontologist 5, 1986.)

    Choose the best answer (Yes or No) for how you felt over the past WEEK.

    1. Are you basically satisfied with your life?
    2. Have you dropped many of your activities and interests?
    3. Do you feel that your life is empty?
    4. Do you often get bored?
    5. Are you in good spirits most of the time?
    6. Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you?
    7. Do you feel happy most of the time?
    8. Do you often feel helpless?
    9. Do you prefer to stay at home rather than going out and doing things?
    10. Do you feel you have more problems with memory than most?
    11. Do you think it is wonderful to be alive now?
    12. Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now?
    13. Do you feel full of energy?
    14. Do you feel that your situation is hopeless?
    15. Do you think that most people are better off than you?
    Scoring: For each matching answer, give yourself one point.
    1. No
    2. Yes
    3. Yes
    4. Yes
    5. No
    6. Yes
    7. No
    8. Yes
    9. Yes
    10. Yes
    11. No
    12. Yes
    13. No
    14. Yes
    15. Yes

    This is an excerpt only

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