When Should I Consult a Doctor for Senior Depression?
May 03, 2012 11:19AM
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Question: Should I consult a psychiatrist or a psychologist to help my mother who I think is suffering from depression?
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Elder Abuse & Depression Expert, Dr. Patrick Arbore
Answer:
If you think your mother is suffering with depression, I would strongly urge you to arrange a consultation as soon as possible with a mental health professional. Whether this individual is a psychiatrist or a psychologist is not as relevant to me as to whether they have experience treating older adults. Depression is not a normal part of aging. However, many people, including professionals, have difficulty assessing the difference between aging and depression.
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Dr. Patrick Arbore is the Founder and Director of the Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention and Grief Related Services (CESP), a program offered by the Institute on Aging in San Francisco. Dr. Arbore conducts workshops and lectures locally and nationally on aging-related subjects. He is the author of numerous articles and book chapters on suicide prevention, bereavement, suffering, etc., including a chapter he co-authored in the book, “When Professionals Weep".
For more information, go to http://www.ioaging.org/
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