The prevention of major depression in the elderly.
Limited information is available regarding the relationship between elderly individuals and depression; but the clinician can anticipate problems in those who have had depression in the past, in those who are bereaved, in caretakers, and in patients with a number of other illnesses, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, stroke, alcoholism, and severe medical illness. Treatment may shorten the duration of the depression, limit long-term sequelae, and reduce the likelihood of suicide. More research with careful methodology would be helpful in clarifying directions for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.
Horne
A
A
Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
Blazer
D G
DG
D000368:Aged; D001601:Bereavement; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D012944:Social Support; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States