Final answer:
Among older adults, depression is the psychiatric disorder found most frequently. Despite anxiety disorders being common in the general population, it is depression that predominates in the elderly, associated with retirement and ageism, and is a leading cause of disability.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among older adults, the psychiatric disorder that is found most frequently is depression. It is often seen during old age, which typically begins in the mid-60s and extends till the end of life. Notwithstanding the commonality of anxiety disorders in the general adult population, with 18 percent of U.S. adults being affected annually, it is depression that tends to prevail among the elderly. The high rates of depression in the elderly are often associated with lifestyle changes such as retirement, which can lead to less social contact and loneliness, as well as potential age-related prejudice known as ageism. In addition, depression is one of the leading causes of disability and has significant morbidity and mortality rates.
For elderly individuals, major depressive disorder (MDD) is a chronic and complex illness. Its symptoms, which include intense sadness and despair, mental slowing, loss of concentration, and physical changes like weight loss and decreased libido, can significantly impair life quality.
It's important to note that while anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders in the United States, and mood disorders such as depression follow closely, in older adults specifically, depression has a higher rate of occurrence.