Citation

Padala PR, Roccaforte WH, Burke WJ. Prim. Psychiatry 2004; 11(8): 35-39.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, MBL Communications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Depression in the elderly is a common problem that is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Late-life depression is associated with significant medical and psychiatric morbidity and mortality, including suicide. Antidepressant medications play a vital role in the treatment of late-life depression, along with nonpharmacologic treatments, such as psychotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy. Evidence suggests that all the available antidepressants are equally efficacious. Selection of an agent is usually made after considering safety, tolerability, and the presence of other medical conditions. Most older patients can be treated safely and effectively, and sustained remission with minimal residual symptoms should be the goal of treatment.

Language: en

Keywords

human; suicide; aged; insomnia; psychotherapy; abdominal pain; depression; anxiety; mortality; drug use; lithium; clinical trial; morbidity; review; fatigue; anorexia; antidepressant agent; sexual dysfunction; doxepin; amfebutamone; amitriptyline; citalopram; clinical feature; desipramine; fluoxetine; imipramine; mirtazapine; monoamine oxidase inhibitor; nefazodone; nortriptyline; paroxetine; sedation; serotonin uptake inhibitor; sertraline; tricyclic antidepressant agent; venlafaxine; somnolence; sleep disorder; electroconvulsive therapy; orthostatic hypotension; drug choice; drug safety; trazodone; drug efficacy; extrapyramidal symptom; drug tolerability; nausea; weight gain; unindexed drug; drug effect; side effect; symptom; cimetidine; apathy; atypical antipsychotic agent; escitalopram; methylphenidate; quinidine; remission; drug contraindication; anticholinergic effect; pethidine; drug indication; ritonavir; dizziness; liothyronine; ciprofloxacin; hip fracture; inappropriate vasopressin secretion; ticlopidine; upper gastrointestinal bleeding