Citation

Spoelhof GD, Davis GL, Licari A. Am. Fam. Physician 2011; 84(10): 1149-1154.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, American Academy of Family Physicians)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The diagnosis of depression in older patients is often complicated by comorbid conditions, such as cerebrovascular disease or dementia. Tools specific for this age group, such as the Geriatric Depression Scale or the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, may assist in making the diagnosis. Treatment decisions should consider risks associated with medications, such as serotonin syndrome, hyponatremia, falls, fractures, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Older white men with depression are at high risk of suicide. Depression is common after stroke or myocardial infarction, and response to antidepressant treatment has been linked to vascular outcomes. Depression care management is an important adjunct to the use of antidepressant medications. Structured psychotherapy and exercise programs are useful treatments for select patients. © 2011 American Academy of Family Physicians.

Language: en

Keywords

human; dementia; exercise; insomnia; psychotherapy; suicidal ideation; depression; psychosis; lithium; risk assessment; comorbidity; dextromethorphan; risk factor; article; antidepressant agent; disease association; health program; fracture; sexual dysfunction; amfebutamone; citalopram; clinical feature; desipramine; fluoxetine; mirtazapine; nortriptyline; paroxetine; sedation; serotonin uptake inhibitor; sertraline; tricyclic antidepressant agent; venlafaxine; xerostomia; cognitive therapy; electroconvulsive therapy; gastrointestinal symptom; heart infarction; falling; drug safety; cerebrovascular accident; seizure; tramadol; trazodone; extrapyramidal symptom; weight gain; hypotension; unindexed drug; high risk patient; hypertension; side effect; symptom; cholinergic receptor blocking agent; duloxetine; escitalopram; serotonin syndrome; withdrawal syndrome; methylphenidate; sedative agent; cerebrovascular disease; geriatric disorder; hyponatremia; phenelzine; pethidine; psychological rating scale; gastrointestinal hemorrhage; cardiovascular agent; treatment response; herbaceous agent; sumatriptan succinate; Mini Mental State Examination; drug induced headache; serotonin noradrenalin reuptake inhibitor; central nervous system agents; Geriatric Depression Scale; urinary hesitancy; morning dosage; bedtime dosage; cyclobenzaprine; Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia