GPs can cut elderly depression
It is predicted that depression will be the second leading cause of disability worldwide within the next 10 years, and the study suggests doctors need to be educated on how to handle the problem. Image: delihayat/iStockphoto Between five and 10 per cent of people over 60 suffer from depression - a common and disabling disorder. It is predicted that depression will be the second leading cause of disability worldwide within the next 10 years, making it a major public health problem.In the biggest study of depression in older people in Australia, researchers at The University of Western Australia and nationally showed that by educating GPs, it was possible to reduce the prevalence of depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts in their older patients.Published in the Annals of Family Medicine, the study found that a physician's empathy and willingness to discuss the emotional concerns of patients might play an important role in reducing self-harm...