Rates of new cases of depression increase with the age of the population. There are several plausible reasons for this. Social, psychological and biological risk factors for depression co-exist in the elderly. Physical illness is more common in older people and some diseases such as strokes frequently cause depression. Old age is also a time of change and particularly of loss - of status and position in society, wealth, opportunity, friends and companions. Also we see in these ages poor self-esteem and lack of capacity for intimacy more often than in other ages.