Psychological disorders in middle and old age

  Generally speaking, people with sub-healthy status are above 40 years old, and there are 6 highs and 1 low in these people, namely, high blood pressure, high blood lipid, high load (physical and mental), high blood sugar, high blood viscosity, high weight, low immune function, and generally there are 1 more and 3 decreases in these people, namely, more fatigue, less responsiveness, less vitality, and less adaptability. Data show that the number of elderly people suffering from various mental illnesses in Shanghai has increased from 8% three years ago to 19.9%.  United Nations experts predict that no disaster will be as lasting and profound as mental illness from now until the middle of the 21st century, and some medical experts predict that sub-health will become the number one enemy of human health in the 21st century. A survey in the United States shows that 60% of the patients who visit hospitals now do not have an organic disease, but simply feel very painful deep inside.  It is reported that psychogeriatric disorders include various types of neurosis, such as depression, anxiety disorders, etc. Psychogeriatric disorders include schizophrenia and senile dementia and other serious mental illnesses. At present, the prevalence of geriatric mental disorders (excluding mild neuroses) in Tianjin has reached 1.5%, which is significantly higher than the general population. In addition to schizophrenia and senile dementia, the prevalence of various types of mental disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders has reached more than 3%. In recent years, the proportion of geriatric patients with psychological and psychiatric disorders among the geriatric patients admitted in Tianjin is about 10%.  China is in the process of social change, urbanization, industrialization, the impact of foreign culture on traditional culture, the increase of population migration, the transformation of the old economic system and many other factors will have an impact on the life of the elderly. Retirement, retirement, loss of financial resources or medical insurance, widowhood, remarriage, children leaving home can lead to personality changes in some elderly people, such as gradually becoming impulsive, selfish, uncaring, suspicious, etc., narrow interests, monotonous life, so that the elderly gradually do not fit in with the outside world, and add to the sense of isolation and insecurity.  The “big family” of the past is gradually evolving into the “nuclear family”, and the number of elderly people without children is increasing, so the “empty nest” is likely to make the elderly feel lonely and desolate, which is called “Empty nest syndrome”. The death of a friend or relative often causes uncontrollable sadness in the elderly, especially after the loss of a spouse. In addition, leaving retirement can also have a great impact on older people who have been accustomed to work for a long time, and are prone to feelings of loss, emptiness or uselessness, and in some cases, even anxiety, pessimism, disappointment, depression and other bad moods. One day she suspects she has cancer, the next she wants her family to take her to the hospital for a checkup, and the day after that she suspects that the doctor has been “bought” by her family. ……88 The elderly Mrs. Wang is in doubt all day long. Despite the fact that the younger generation is considerate and filial, the old man’s “illness” is getting worse. The family had to take the old man to the mental health center to check the “heart disease”.  Experts diagnosed that Mrs. Wang has been suffering from a more serious hypochondriac. According to statistics, the proportion of depression in older people over 55 years of age can be as high as 10%-15%, and some of these patients have very serious symptoms and even commit suicide, so the mortality rate of elderly depressed patients can be as high as 30% Given that the proportion of elderly women suffering from depression can be 25%, much higher than that of elderly men, experts reiterate that it is more important to prevent and treat depression in elderly women.  The onset of depression in the elderly is a period of unexplained depression and frustration that lasts for more than two weeks, with a feeling of being down and out until the bottom falls out. The patient is not interested in life, work or previous hobbies. Gradually, older people with depression may also experience more and more severe physical symptoms than younger people, including: severe insomnia. Older people who used to sleep well may suddenly have difficulty sleeping, may fall asleep but wake up too early, or may fall asleep but feel that they have not fallen asleep (so-called “sleep loss”), when anti-neuroleptic drugs are often ineffective. Constipation. Elderly people who have normal bowel movements may have difficulty in passing stools and may have severe constipation for up to a week, accompanied by various digestive disorders such as loss of appetite or even complete lack of food and drink, and in some cases, bloating and bad breath. Cardiovascular abnormalities.  Patients with geriatric depression often have elevated blood pressure, moderately fast heart rate or certain symptoms of coronary heart disease. Unnamed pain: Some elderly depressed patients have physical symptoms such as insomnia, constipation, palpitations, etc., along with pain-based symptoms such as headache, heartache, low back pain, joint pain, etc., and the patients are not allowed to say. Patients take painkillers to no avail, but the pain is relieved and disappears again by taking antidepressants.  It is worth mentioning that the above mental symptoms and physical symptoms can come on periodically, sometimes heavy and sometimes light, even in the same day, the severity of the off can be different, generally speaking, the morning is heavier, while the evening is lighter. With the development of the disease, especially the mental disorder will also become more and more obvious, specifically: a strong sense of loneliness and frustration, memory, judgment, decisiveness and learning ability greatly reduced, love to cry, reluctant to see people (even loved friends and relatives), but also may have increasingly strong suicide attempts or even start to implement light life plan, and finally most likely to lead to disastrous consequences.