Class Activity 8 & Class Activity Post 8
The mental health of the older population is an issue of concern. Therefore, there arises the need to have tools such as GDS and PHQ9to use for self-report. GDS works best with older people who live independently. There is also the need to do more research on why older people seem reluctant about seeking mental health services.
Question 1
The GDS and the PHQ9 are similar in various ways. First, they are both useful in assessing depression in patients. Their use also goes beyond the United States. Their use in Korea gave reliable results (Yochim & Woodhead, 2017). Differences exist between them as well. For example, the GDS is most suitable for old adults living without getting assistance. Contrarily, PHQ9 works well for both the adults and the general population. Another contrast between the two is the number of items whereby PHQ9 has nine while SGDS has fifteen. Besides, the score per question of the former is between zero and three. On the other hand, each GDS item has either zero or one as a score.
Question 2
PHQ9 is more likable since its utilization helps a larger population shows than GDS (Yochim & Woodhead, 2017). Furthermore, it is mainly a DIY for a patient, which saves time for clinicians to attend to other duties. Finally, its relatively more extensive range of severity score increases its accuracy.
Question 3
The pros of using these two assessments in older adults are that both give valid results. They also prove useful because they render severely depressed adults easily identifiable. This way, these adults get the medical attention that they deserve. However, the fact that they give provisional result, and that GDS is more suitable for the older independent adults, works against both of them (Yochim & Woodhead, 2017). Furthermore, PHQ9 tends to have false-positive rates half of the time.
Chapter 6
Question 1
The most engaging information in chapter six is the observed less frequent use of mental health services by older adults compared to other age groups. Despite the lack of clarity in this trend, there are barriers identified, stigma being one of them. As much as these older adults have positive views about the care of mental health, they get embarrassed seeking it (Yochim & Woodhead, 2017). Studies also found that older adults would rather keep their problems to themselves and struggle alone. Additionally, these older are less knowledgeable than younger ones about mental health problems.
The quote picked states that CBT is as effective as pharmacotherapy treatments for mood disorders (Yochim & Woodhead, 2017). It is interesting because CBT aims to change the behavior and thoughts that accompany the illness. It restructures thoughts, hence modifying belief systems and appraisals. Furthermore, CBT has proven to be more effective than IPT.
Question 2
Known is a 30-year male old adult having schizophrenia. His maternal side had a history of this mental health problem. Due to cognitive impairment, he gets agitated unpredictably, and at times he acts childish. At times, he gives unrelated answers when asked questions (Yochim & Woodhead, 2017). He suffers from depression and has suicidal thoughts. After reaching out to him, he visits a mental health professional regularly.
In conclusion, older adults have instruments that they can use to self-report depression symptoms such as GDS and PHQ9. GDS is suitable for independent older adults, while PHQ9 gives accurate results for the general population. However, PHQ9 gives false-positive results half of the time. Research also found that older people rarely seek mental health services. Notably, pharmacotherapy helps with mood disorders. Finally, cognitive impairment and verbal learning are among the symptoms of schizophrenia.