Demystifying Depression in Older Adults

While not a normal part of aging, up to 20% of older adults have symptoms of depression. These rates increase to 40% for those in hospital or living in long-term care. In this webinar recording, psychiatrists Dr. Sophiya Benjamin and Dr. Anthony Levinson discuss late-life depression, its causes and symptoms, how it is assessed and diagnosed, as well as treatment and management strategies, including preventative measures and helpful resources.

Learn the answers to the following questions:

0:00 Introduction and overview
1:18 What is depression?
5:39 What causes depression?
7:34 What are some of the risk factors for older adults?
8:44 How is depression assessed and diagnosed?
13:02 If not depression, what else could it be?
15:51 What are common misconceptions about depression in older adults?
17:27 How is depression treated?
39:16 What resources and supports are available?
46:42 Can one heal completely from depression?
47:00 When should depression be treated by a specialist?
47:53 Why do I need a medication? Shouldn’t I just be able to cope?
49:42 Are people who have had bouts of depression in their younger years more likely to be depressed in old age?
50:35 How can one encourage someone who refuses to seek help?
52:18 How is seasonal affective disorder treated?
53:37 Can certain medications lead to or increase the risk of depression?
57:10 How do you handle important life transitions to avoid becoming depressed?
1:00:00 Is there a relationship between depression and dementia?
1:02:22 Are psychedelics beneficial for treating depression?
1:04:39 Will using cannabis help or worsen depression?
1:07:44 If you are photosensitive, can you use light therapies to treat depression?
1:08:04 If you have been on an antidepressant for many years, will it continue to be effective as you age?
1:09:25 What do you do if you don’t have access to a primary care provider?

Learn more at: https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/...

Dr. Sophiya Benjamin is an Associate Clinical Professor at McMaster University. She is a geriatric psychiatrist serving seniors with dementia at the Specialized Mental Health Program at the Freeport site of Grand River Hospital. She is the Schlegel Chair in Mental Health and Aging at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) and co-founder and co-executive director of GeriMedRisk, a Ministry of Health-funded, clinical and education service that helps doctors and nurse practitioners across Ontario with questions about medications in older persons.

Dr. Anthony Levinson is a Professor at McMaster University and a physician who works in the area of consultation-liaison psychiatry in Hamilton, Ontario. He leads the design and development of multimedia content, including online learning about various topics related to healthy aging for the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal.

This talk is presented as a partnership between the Optimal Aging Portal and the Office of Alumni Engagement.

Disclaimer: These videos are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The videos may be used for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal ([email protected]).