Citation

Smith JM. J. Gerontol. Nurs. 2010; 36(4): 22-29.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Healio)

DOI

10.3928/00989134-20100202-04

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Depression is a serious mental health problem in older adults. Some of the symptoms of depression include depressed mood, significant change in weight or appetite, changes in sleep patterns, a decrease in concentration and energy, and possible suicide. However, depression is a treatable illness, especially with the newer class of antidepressant agents, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). One side effect of SSRI use includes hyponatremia, which is becoming an increasingly serious complication that may have harmful clinical ramifications. Older adults are especially at risk for hyponatremia and could experience serious consequences if left untreated. The purpose of this article is to use an individual example to demonstrate the clinical importance of detecting hyponatremia in older adults receiving SSRI treatment. Copyright © SLACK Incorporated.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Risk Factors; Aged; Female; human; Incidence; Severity of Illness Index; female; Aged, 80 and over; aged; incidence; case report; nursing; Antidepressive Agents; Geriatric Assessment; Geriatric Nursing; risk factor; Patient Selection; Depressive Disorder; antidepressant agent; serotonin uptake inhibitor; hyponatremia; drug monitoring; Drug Monitoring; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors; nursing assessment; Nursing Assessment; patient selection; geriatric nursing; chemically induced; geriatric assessment; very elderly; severity of illness index; Hyponatremia