Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression in the Elderly

Depression and suicide are significant problems in the elderly, both in terms of their severity and their prevalence. It is particularly difficult to distinguish depression from early dementia, since elderly depressed patients often deny mood disorder and focus on their memory problems. This differential diagnostic dilemma is further complicated by the fact that 20 percent of Alzheimer-type dementia patients have moderate to severe depression. An even higher prevalence of depression can be seen in elderly patients with stroke or Parkinson's disease. Most all of the depressive disorders of the elderly are amenable to one form or combination of therapies: pharmacologic, electro-convulsive, or psychotherapy. Tricyclic antidepressants are often associated with adverse drug reactions in the elderly, so alternatives such as MAO inhibitors, alprazolam, bupropion and psychostimulants are currently being explored in this patient population.