Growing older

Correctly recognising mental illness in the elderly is a challenge for relatives, care staff and medical professionals. Nevertheless, it is necessary and important to diagnose and treat those affected appropriately. Elderly people belong to the risk group for suicides. Men over the age of 65 are particularly at risk; one third of all suicides fall into this age group. In most cases, the triggers are untreated depression, which is often hidden behind addictive and risky behaviour, as well as anxiety disorders. Physical illness, chronic pain, loneliness and social isolation, the loss of close people or familiar surroundings as well as the experience of constant dependence and the desire not to burden others are considered additional risk factors.

Which therapeutic measures are used depends on the individual clinical picture. It should be noted, however, that psychotropic drugs often have a different or stronger effect on older people and are associated with different or stronger side effects than on younger patients. In addition, interactions with other medications taken must be taken into account. The age of the patient should also be considered in psychotherapy. In contrast to young patients, the focus in old age is no longer on eliminating the symptoms, but rather on achieving small changes that solve concrete problems in the daily lives of those affected. Thus, the well-being of some patients already improves when they learn to structure their everyday life in a meaningful way or find new tasks with the support of the therapist that make life worth living again.