Inleiding wetenschappelijk artikel
Bente van der Velden 2727173
Woorden: 628
Why antidepressants are not just for “the young ones”
“De ۰ press ۰ ion; a condition of general emotional dejection and withdrawal; sadness greater and
more prolonged than that warranted by any objective reason” (1). This is how the English dictionary
describes depression.
Depression is a global phenomenon, not in a positive way. The mental disorder is becoming a bigger
and bigger issue as we speak, causing millions of people worldwide to disabilities in its broadest
sense. The lack of interest, enjoyment, activity and energy are the biggest symptoms for depression,
often associated with changes in sleep and appetite, anxiety, low self-worth or poor concentration
(2). When we look at the facts, depression is mostly associated with middle-aged people (3).
However, when we look at the Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx) published in 2019 by the
Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), it tells us differently when we look at the
percentages. Even though more people aged 20-60 years are diagnosed with depression, the
percentual share of the elderly (aged 60-89 years) is higher. Roughly 4,9% and 5,8% (4). A research
performed in 2021 using systematic research and meta-analysis, concluded that the prevalence of
depression among people of 75 years old or older was 31,74% (5). In addition, the numbers are
increasing every year, supporting the fact that the disorder is becoming a prominent problem in our
society. However, not only the emotional and physical damage caused by depression makes the
disorder a big social problem. Studies have shown that the suicide rate among elderly people with
depressive symptoms has increased. Suicides are more likely to be committed successfully when it
comes to elderly people with suicidal thoughts compared with younger people (6).
Previous research also tells us why depression is common among the elderly. Factors like gender,
relationship status, employment status, educational background, income, physical illness (such as
diabetes, heart diseases, stroke and head injury), mental illness (such as dementia), living situation,
sleep schedule, social support and the history of serious life events all play a big role in the
development of depressiveness (4). Other researches regarding the same subject tell us that more
people experience depression when living without their partner and that the female gender is more
likely to experience depression (2). They also show that the prevalence of depression among
residents from Old Age Homes (OAH’s) was quite a bit higher (7).
Even though it seems that there is enough information gathered about depression among elderly
people, there is not much information about pharmaceutical aid for them to use. It is possible that
elderly people ask for help less often when they experience depressed feelings, or maybe they don’t
see depression as a severe problem due to a generation gap. In this research therefore, the research
question will be: to what extent is there an effect of pharmacological interventions to remedy
depression among elderly people (>75 years) on their lifespan compared to elderly people who don’t
use pharmaceuticals? CES-D is a intervention questionnaire in which individuals can answer certain
questions with a score from 1 to 4, 1 being rarely/never and 4 being mostly/always. The questions
vary from depressed thoughts to appetite. It is a commonly used resource used to determine the
intensity of the undetermined depressive feelings.
The investigation is randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a population of elderly people (>75 years).
The population will be randomly divided into two equal groups. At the start of the research, each
individual will receive a CES-D questionnaire. After the results are noted, one group receives Prozac
(fluoxetine), the most frequently used antidepressant. Each individual of this group uses Prozac in the
same quantities every day, for 6 months long. The other group receives a placebo drug. After the 6
Bente van der Velden 2727173
Woorden: 628
Why antidepressants are not just for “the young ones”
“De ۰ press ۰ ion; a condition of general emotional dejection and withdrawal; sadness greater and
more prolonged than that warranted by any objective reason” (1). This is how the English dictionary
describes depression.
Depression is a global phenomenon, not in a positive way. The mental disorder is becoming a bigger
and bigger issue as we speak, causing millions of people worldwide to disabilities in its broadest
sense. The lack of interest, enjoyment, activity and energy are the biggest symptoms for depression,
often associated with changes in sleep and appetite, anxiety, low self-worth or poor concentration
(2). When we look at the facts, depression is mostly associated with middle-aged people (3).
However, when we look at the Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx) published in 2019 by the
Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), it tells us differently when we look at the
percentages. Even though more people aged 20-60 years are diagnosed with depression, the
percentual share of the elderly (aged 60-89 years) is higher. Roughly 4,9% and 5,8% (4). A research
performed in 2021 using systematic research and meta-analysis, concluded that the prevalence of
depression among people of 75 years old or older was 31,74% (5). In addition, the numbers are
increasing every year, supporting the fact that the disorder is becoming a prominent problem in our
society. However, not only the emotional and physical damage caused by depression makes the
disorder a big social problem. Studies have shown that the suicide rate among elderly people with
depressive symptoms has increased. Suicides are more likely to be committed successfully when it
comes to elderly people with suicidal thoughts compared with younger people (6).
Previous research also tells us why depression is common among the elderly. Factors like gender,
relationship status, employment status, educational background, income, physical illness (such as
diabetes, heart diseases, stroke and head injury), mental illness (such as dementia), living situation,
sleep schedule, social support and the history of serious life events all play a big role in the
development of depressiveness (4). Other researches regarding the same subject tell us that more
people experience depression when living without their partner and that the female gender is more
likely to experience depression (2). They also show that the prevalence of depression among
residents from Old Age Homes (OAH’s) was quite a bit higher (7).
Even though it seems that there is enough information gathered about depression among elderly
people, there is not much information about pharmaceutical aid for them to use. It is possible that
elderly people ask for help less often when they experience depressed feelings, or maybe they don’t
see depression as a severe problem due to a generation gap. In this research therefore, the research
question will be: to what extent is there an effect of pharmacological interventions to remedy
depression among elderly people (>75 years) on their lifespan compared to elderly people who don’t
use pharmaceuticals? CES-D is a intervention questionnaire in which individuals can answer certain
questions with a score from 1 to 4, 1 being rarely/never and 4 being mostly/always. The questions
vary from depressed thoughts to appetite. It is a commonly used resource used to determine the
intensity of the undetermined depressive feelings.
The investigation is randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a population of elderly people (>75 years).
The population will be randomly divided into two equal groups. At the start of the research, each
individual will receive a CES-D questionnaire. After the results are noted, one group receives Prozac
(fluoxetine), the most frequently used antidepressant. Each individual of this group uses Prozac in the
same quantities every day, for 6 months long. The other group receives a placebo drug. After the 6
