Diagnosis
After a comprehensive assessment of depression has been completed, nursing diagnoses may be used to delineate identified human responses. The following is a list of sample nursing diagnoses commonly identified in older adults experiencing depression, with examples of possible causes :
- Altered family processes related to death of spouse
- Anxiety related to recent retirement
- Body image disturbance related to decreased mobility
- Dysfunctional grieving related to denial of death of loved one
- Fear related to sensory alteration
- High risk for self-directed violence related to depressed mood
- Hopelessness related to change in living environment
- Impaired social interaction related to activity intolerance
- Ineffective individual coping related to numerous recent losses
- Powerlessness related to impaired decision making
- Risk for loneliness related to social isolation
-Risk for self-directed violence related to hopelessness
- Risk for self-mutilation related to body image disturbance
- Self-care deficit related to depressed mood
- Self-esteem disturbance related to retirement
- Social isolation related to recent move
- Spiritual distress related to frequent thoughts of death