2. • A 70 yrs old woman was recently admitted
after her son informed the doctor that his
mother had been doing very poorly. The
patient reports a 30lb weight loss , decreased
concentration, feeling helplessness and
hopelessness , decreased energy , depressed
mood and decreased sleep
3.
4. General Considerations
• Depression is extremely common, with up to
30% of primary care patients hving depressive
symptoms. Depression may be the final
expression of (1) genetic factors
• (neurotransmitter dysfunction), (2)
developmental problems (personality
problems, childhood events), or (3)
psychosocial stresses (divorce,
unemployment).
5. • Depression may occur in reaction to some
identifiable stressor or adverse life situation,
usually loss of person by death (grief
reaction), divorce, etc; Financial reversal
(crises);
• or loss of established role, such s being
needed.
• Anger is frequently associated with the loss,
and this inturn often produces feeling of guilt.
