Depressed And Anxiety Disorder In Elderly You Are Seeing Jan

Depressed And Anxiety Disorder In Elderlyyou Are Seeing Janet Who Is

Depressed and Anxiety Disorder in elderly You are seeing Janet, who is a 72-year-old newly widowed female. She spent the past year caring for her husband, John, who passed away three months ago from pancreatic cancer. Her daughter has brought her in today and is concerned that Janet is both depressed and anxious. The daughter reports that her mother is “barely eating,” showers maybe once a week, and doesn’t like to leave her house anymore. When she does get her mother to leave the house, it takes her about half an hour to get out because Janet goes around double-checking that everything is unplugged and off.

In the car, Janet is quite fidgety and reports that she is driving too close to other vehicles and going too fast, although her daughter disagrees. The daughter has given her some Xanax (alprazolam) prescribed to herself after her father’s passing, which has helped Janet. The daughter requests a prescription for this medication for her mother.

Paper For Above instruction

This paper will explore the assessment and management of depression and anxiety disorders in elderly patients, focusing on Janet’s case. It will include screening tools for depression and anxiety, resources for patients and families, and appropriate responses to medication sharing among family members. The discussion will integrate evidence-based research relevant to geriatric mental health, emphasizing nursing practices and pharmacological considerations specific to older adults.

Depression and anxiety disorders are prevalent among the elderly, often underdiagnosed and undertreated due to overlapping symptoms with other age-related conditions. The complex interaction between physiological changes, psychosocial stressors, and comorbidities necessitates careful screening and individualized care strategies. In Janet’s case, her recent widowhood, social withdrawal, and physical symptoms indicate a probable depressive disorder complicated by anxiety symptoms, particularly hypervigilance and motor restlessness.

Screening for depression can be effectively conducted using standardized tools such as the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). The GDS is designed specifically for older populations, emphasizing mood over somatic symptoms which may be confounded by other health issues (Sheikh & Yesavage, 1986). The 15-item version provides a reliable and quick assessment, with scores indicating the severity of depressive symptoms. For anxiety screening, the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) is recommended; it is validated for elderly populations and captures common anxiety features like excessive worry and somatic complaints (Pachana et al., 2013).

In addition to screening tools, family-focused resources are essential. Educating Janet’s daughter about geriatric depression and anxiety fosters better understanding and support. Community mental health services, local support groups for seniors, and counseling services tailored for grief and loss can significantly improve Janet's quality of life. The Alzheimer's Association and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offer resources that can assist families navigating mental health challenges in older adults.

Addressing the daughter’s report of giving Janet her Xanax brings up important considerations. Medications like alprazolam belong to benzodiazepines, which pose risks such as falls, cognitive impairment, and dependence, especially in older adults (Barker et al., 2004). The inappropriate sharing of prescription medications raises concerns about safety, proper dosing, and the need for psychiatric oversight. As a nurse, it’s critical to educate the family about these risks, recommend a psychiatric evaluation rather than self-prescribing, and discuss alternative, safer interventions for her anxiety such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or non-pharmacologic strategies.

References

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