1 / 25

Developmental Health Psychology

Developmental Health Psychology. Aging. Primary Aging “normal” senescence Secondary Aging “pathological” senescence. Health during old age. Most in good health (Stats Can., ’99) Most common chronic conditions: late adulthood Arthritis, rheumatism – 42% High blood pressure – 33%

bernad
Download Presentation

Developmental Health Psychology

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Developmental Health Psychology

  2. Aging • Primary Aging • “normal” senescence • Secondary Aging • “pathological” senescence

  3. Health during old age • Most in good health (Stats Can., ’99) • Most common chronic conditions: late adulthood • Arthritis, rheumatism – 42% • High blood pressure – 33% • Allergies – 22% • Back problems – 17% • Heart problems – 16%

  4. Key ideas • Women live longer than men • But more likely to have chronic conditions and limitations in activities of daily living • Physical health declines, psychological well-being improves

  5. Determinants of health • Health beliefs, behaviours, social structure, SES • Often can be changed to improve health

  6. Despite attention paid to sickness and treatment, self-care is the most predominant form of care

  7. Mental Health • Attempt to live meaningfully • in a particular set of social and environmental circumstances • relying on a particular collection of resources and supports

  8. Self-development • self-perception • integration of various roles • striving for growth • possible commitment to something beyond self • Life satisfaction (self image, self esteem)

  9. Threats to mental health • Epidemiological Catchment Area Study • US Nat’l Inst. of Mental Health • 18,000 structured interviews • 5 regions across US • Dispelled 2 major myths: • Women at greater risk. • Older adults at greater risk

  10. Age-Related Trends in Mental Disorders • Lower prevalence in older than younger adults • all mental disorders (excluding dementias) • Younger (18-64 years): 11-25% • Older (65+): 6-14%

  11. Mood disorders (including depression) • Younger: 3-8% • Older: 2-3% • Dementia • Older: 6-10% • Possible co-existence and interaction with physical illness

  12. Are Elderly Less Prone to Mental Illness? • Diagnostic criteria not “age fair” • depression symptoms different in elderly • Elderly typically visit physicians before mental health professionals • physical symptoms mask psychological ones • e.g., difficulty sleeping, changes in diet, heart palpitations (depression)

  13. Myths, stereotypes about aging • must distinguish normal aging from disease • ageism in treatment • Cohort effects: “stigma”

  14. Alzheimer’s Disease • Progressive, degenerative brain disorder • Loss of memory, awareness, ability to control body functions

  15. First reported in 1907 • Shrinkage of cortex • Large masses of amyloid plaques • Spherical protein deposits outside of nerve cells • Neurofibrillary tangles • Twisted protein filaments inside neurons • Spread from bottom (midbrain) to top (cortex)

  16. Plaques, tangles present in normal aging brain • In Alzheimer’s: excessive, interfere with communication between neurons

  17. Prevalence • Rare under 50 • 6-10% over 65 • 30-50% over 85

  18. Symptoms • Permanent forgetting of recent events • Unable to do routine tasks • Forget simple words • Confusion in familiar locations • Forget what numbers mean • Put things in inappropriate places • Watch in fishbowl

  19. Rapid, dramatic mood swings • Loss of language, communication skills

  20. Causes • Very little known • Possibly: • Genetic factors (permitting tangles to form) • Environment (sporadic AD – no family history; possible toxins) • Build up of plaques in body, free radicals in brain

  21. Risk Factors • Age • Family history • Brain damage (accident) • Predictors: Kentucky Nun Study • “richness” of early writing

  22. Treatment • Anti-oxidants • Enzyme-blocking agents (prevent plaques) • Genetic engineering (promote neuron growth) • Respite care: caregiver stress • Behaviour Modification (activities of daily living)

  23. Physical activity • Social involvement • Good nutrition • Calm structured environment

  24. Coping with AD • Patient • Aware of changes • Shame, self image, fear of desertion • Behavioural changes (stages) • Caregiver: physical, psychological, social • 70% family members (female usually) • 50% severe stress

  25. Caregiver Stress • Physically exhausting: constant vigilance • Psychological effects • Grief: adjust to gradual loss • Increasing social isolation • Stigma: cover-up, try to avoid social interactions • Stress: severity depends on availability of social support (respite care, counselling, support groups)

More Related