Geriatric Depression - Review for Primary Care

Authors: Seritan, Andreea L.; McCloud, Michael K.; Hinton, Ladson

Source: Current Psychiatry Reviews, Volume 5, Number 2, May 2009 , pp. 137-142(6)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

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Abstract:

Late-life depression is the most common mood disorder in the geriatric population. Often encountered in the primary care setting, geriatric depression needs to be appropriately diagnosed and differentiated from medical conditions that can mimic it or present with mood symptoms. This review will help psychiatrists and primary care physicians to screen for, identify possible medical confounders, and treat depression in the elderly. Untreated major depression may lead to increased morbidity and mortality from medical illnesses, and is the strongest risk factor for late-life suicide. Pharmacological approaches should be used in combination with psychotherapies, several of which have solid evidence in geriatric depression.

Keywords: Late-life; depression; geriatric; primary care

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157340009788167329

Publication date: 2009-05-01

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Current Psychiatry Reviews publishes frontier reviews on all the latest advances on clinical psychiatry and its related areas e.g. pharmacology, epidemiology, clinical care, and therapy. The journal's aim is to publish the highest quality review articles dedicated to clinical research in the field. The journal is essential reading for all clinicians, psychiatrists and researchers in psychiatry.