Citation

Meire P. Louvain Medical 1998; 117(3): 79-83.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Depression is a common disorder among the elderly, and the suicide rate in this group is relatively high. Both the causes and the symptoms of geriatric depression vary, and there are types of depression seen in later life that are not seen in younger people. The diagnosis of depression in the elderly is difficult, as the patients may present a somewhat atypical picture, and depression is often combined with anxiety, somatic and cognitive abnormalities. Treatment of depression in the elderly is largely the same as that offered to younger people, involving psychotherapy, pharmacological intervention and additionnai therapies. At the present level of knowledge, the drugs of choice are the SSRIs. Importantly, patients with dementia disorders and concomitant depressive symptoms and other emotionnal disturbances can be treated effectively with SSRIs. Dementing disorders have a prevalence around 5-10% in elderly people; Alzheimers disease (AD) is the most prevalent dementing disorder, representing over 50% of all cases in the elderly and its prevalence is doubling approximately every five years from the age of 60. The impact of AD on patients, caregivers and physicians is enormous. It is now recognised that the early diagnosis of AD is imperative if the potential benefits of therapy for AD are to be maximized. Increased attention is also being paid to improving caregiver support.

Language: fr

Keywords

aged; alzheimer disease; anxiety; cognitive defect; dementia; depression; human; psychotherapy; review; serotonin uptake inhibitor