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Depression And Dispiritedness In Later Life: A 'Gray Drizzle Of Horror' Isn't Inevitable, Howard Butcher, M. Mcgonigal-Kenney
Depression And Dispiritedness In Later Life: A 'Gray Drizzle Of Horror' Isn't Inevitable, Howard Butcher, M. Mcgonigal-Kenney
Howard K. Butcher
The misconception that aging and depression are inevitably entwined is not only common but also dangerous. It can lead to a variety of adverse events, which might have been avoided had the depression been recognized and treated. However, recognizing depression in older adults can be difficult as it may present differently in this population than it does in younger adults. Furthermore, while treatment options are similar, adjustments may need to be made to deal with the physiological changes inherent to age. The authors address the recognition and treatment of depression in older adults. They also propose a diagnosis of dispiritedness, …
Living In The Doldrums: The Lived Experience Of Dispiritedness In Later Life, Howard Butcher, M. Mcgonigal-Kenney
Living In The Doldrums: The Lived Experience Of Dispiritedness In Later Life, Howard Butcher, M. Mcgonigal-Kenney
Howard K. Butcher
This phenomenological investigation sought to enhance understanding of the experience of dispiritedness by providing a rich and vivid description of the essential structure of the experience in later life. van Manen's hermeneutic-phenomenological method was used to analyze the transcribed texts of 11 individuals who identified themselves as being in "later life" (mean age = 73, age range = 52 to 93) and who participated in phenomenological interviews focusing on describing the experience of dispiritedness. Statements describing the experience of dispiritedness were sorted into 21 thematic categories that were synthesized into 7 essential themes that described the structure of the lived …