Perdikari Erietta
psychologist-psychotherapist
Title: The Experience and management of depression in the elderly in greece
Biography
Biography: Perdikari Erietta
Abstract
Depression is a painful reality for a large percentage of the elderly in Greece, especially in recent years after the financial crisis. Its onset seems to be related to physical illnesses, social isolation, low income, and stressful events. In addition, some psychological and social conditions associated with aging, such as retirement, loss of a partner, seem to play a decisive role.
Such changes are not easily manageable because the elderly will have to adjust their lives to new conditions and create a new program of activities. An important factor in dealing with depression is the way that older people experience and manage it.
Aim & Objectives: The main purpose of this study is to investigate in-depth the experience of the elderly with depression.
Material & Methods: In order to investigate the subject of the present research, the qualitative method with semi-structured interviews has selected.
Results: The main issues that emerged from the analysis of the interviews are: “change for the worse” (negative emotions, development of psychosomatic symptoms, isolation), “how I perceive depression” (fear of stigmatization, what lead me to depression, treatments), “how depression has affected my life” (my daily life has changed, my life, in general, has changed, my social relationships have changed), “depression management” (passive attitude towards depression, active attitude towards depression, non accepting depression)
Conclusion: Participants consider depression to be a negative condition characterized by psychosomatic symptoms such as headaches, stomach aches, sleep disorders, and negative thoughts. Depression has significantly affected their lives because they find it difficult to perform important tasks such as preparing food and cleaning their house. Also, most participants said that their social relationships have been negatively affected. One of the main reasons why they avoid social interactions and communication with others is the fear of stigmatization. That is, they are afraid that others will understand that they are depressed and call them crazy or problematic.