What is geriatric depression and anxiety disorder? Geriatric depression and anxiety disorder generally refer to depression and anxiety attacks in elderly people aged 60 and above, and is a common mental disorder in the elderly population. The core symptoms of depression include low mood (low mood), loss of pleasure (decreased appetite), and decreased interest, as well as sleep disorders (insomnia) and cognitive decline (forgetfulness). Depression and anxiety in old age are often seen as a part of elderly life and have not been fully recognized and diagnosed. Elderly depression and anxiety have been shown to be associated with significant negative consequences such as poor quality of life, difficulties in daily activities, comorbidities, premature death, and cognitive impairment. Therefore, it is very important to strengthen the understanding and management of depression and anxiety symptoms in the elderly. As long as the patient meets the clinical diagnostic criteria for depression and anxiety, timely treatment is necessary. Which elderly people are prone to depression and anxiety? The causes of depression and anxiety in the elderly are complex and often accompanied by physical illnesses, and the two may also be mutually causal. For example, depression in the elderly can increase the incidence of dementia; Among people with coronary heart disease and hypertension, the incidence rate of anxiety disorder accounts for almost half. The susceptible population for depression and anxiety in the elderly includes the following categories. 1. Lack of emotional supporters, 2. Encountering negative events, 3. Chronic disease patients, 4. Long term medication users, 5. Personality traits: Stubbornness. How to treat depression and anxiety in elderly people? For elderly patients with depression and anxiety, treatment mainly includes medication and psychological therapy. Medication therapy is prescribed by a specialist doctor, and most medications may need to be started with small doses, gradually adjusted in dosage, and should not be abruptly stopped after a period of use. Medication adjustments require guidance from a specialist doctor and regular follow-up. In terms of psychological intervention therapy, it is led by specialized doctors and requires the cooperation of patients and their families. The treatment plan needs to be practical, feasible, and flexible in order to maximize the satisfaction of the needs of patients and nursing staff. Therefore, when formulating the initial psychological treatment plan, family members and patients need to be involved, and it may be continuously evaluated and updated. As family members of patients, like doctors, we should stand at the forefront of treatment and achieve the following points. Pay attention to the psychological condition of the elderly, provide care and companionship for them, and avoid showing annoyance, rejection, dissatisfaction, or hostility. 2. Ensure nutrient intake and actively treat underlying physical illnesses; Encourage patients to maintain regular daily routines, actively participate in recreational and group activities such as playing chess, calligraphy, and cards; Enhance patients' interpersonal communication and enrich their life content. Encourage and accompany patients to engage in outdoor activities, and moderate exercise is the most effective and natural "medicine" to combat depression. To treat elderly anxiety and depression, we need to work together to improve and establish a multidisciplinary team collaborative care model for elderly depression and anxiety disorders, involving specialist doctors, primary healthcare workers, social workers, and family members, to promote the extension of clinical symptom relief to comprehensive functional rehabilitation for elderly patients. In addition to oral medication and psychological intervention, there is also a type of physical therapy, including electroconvulsive therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, and deep brain stimulation, as well as treatment methods such as phototherapy and sleep deprivation that are still under research. However, the above treatment methods have not yet obtained clear research conclusions in elderly anxiety patients, and more research is needed to confirm them. At present, anxiety patients usually adopt ways to regulate their body and mind, such as yoga, painting, dance, music and other art therapies, which have a significant effect on alleviating the anxiety state of the elderly. (New Society)