Illness and Depression

“I am a male professional in my 60s. Whenever I become ill with some infection, such as a cold, I also become very depressed. Sometimes the depression seems worse than the physical illness. It gets so bad that I don’t want to get out of bed. What can I do when this happens?” 

You state that you are in your 60s. Depression is often connected to the aging process, appearing in one’s senior years. One third of all older adults in the United States have symptoms of depression and five million are known to be diagnosed as clinically depressed. It is quite possible that you are experiencing symptoms of a clinical depression that may or may not be related to the illnesses that you have experienced.

The depression may be related to your illnesses. However, there is the possibility that the depression is associated with physical problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or other chronic conditions. In a number of cases, patients presenting with depression have an immune system that has been compromised by chronic stress. The depression in these cases is often caused by the onset of a chronic disease or changes in a preexisting condition.

I encourage you to consider a physical exam with an internist who is a specialist in aging, hopefully a gerontologist. This would help rule out the possibility of a medical condition causing your depression. If it is found that there is little or no relationship between any physical illness and your depression, I suggest you consult a psychiatrist who works with an older clientele. This would provide a further examination of your possibly suffering from clinical depression.

I commend you for sharing this concern. Awareness of the problem and an interest in pursuing treatment are important first steps. The symptoms of clinical depression decrease in the majority of cases where persons like you receive appropriate treatment. With proper medication and/or psychotherapy included in your course of treatment, you will be better able to lead a richer and more satisfying life.

Dr. Manuel S. Silverman, PhD