Mental illness in late life: The neurobiology of depression

The majority of elderly adults negotiate late life free from significant psychological disability. However, depression is one of the most common and distressing mental health problems they face. A number of factors associated with mental health, illness and depression in older adults is reviewed. In addition, an overview of selected psychological and biological theories related to depression are presented with the focus on genetic studies and the neurobiologic nature of stress to demonstrate the interaction between brain, behavior, cognition, and emotion. Psychiatric mental health nurses are challenged not only to examine the complex interaction between physical, mental, and social factors, but to integrate this knowledge into the discipline of psychiatric—mental health nursing, its practice, research, and education.