Use of antidepressants in the frail elderly. When, why, and how.
Sir Martin Roth has stated, "where there is depression, there is hope," to emphasize the fact that depression can be a treatable source of excess disability, even when it is superimposed upon irreversible chronic medical illness. Both the potential benefits and the risks of antidepressant medications are increased in the frail elderly. This article presents an approach toward defining who should be treated and for ensuring that elderly patients receive adequate treatment.
Katz
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IR
Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Curlik
S
S
Lesher
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EL
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D009661:Nortriptyline