Many elderly go undiagnosed for depression

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Old-age symptoms can mask signs of depression, making it difficult to diagnose and treat about 2 million older adults nationwide who suffer from depression, doctors say.

Seniors do not present classic signs of depression during visits to their family practitioners, but instead complain of various aches and pains, which Dr. Bradley Diner says are likely related to depression.

"One of the biggest red flags is when they have symptoms with no obvious cause, when in fact, what they have is depression," said Diner, a psychiatrist who specializes in treating the elderly.

Because doctors and patients have been conditioned to expect certain ailments in seniors -- weight loss, fatigue, poor concentration, forgetfulness -- some doctors overlook the possibility of depression.

and some patients forego seeking help. Both sides simply regard the ailments as an inevitable side-effect of aging.