Depression: making the diagnosis and using SSRIs in the older patient.
Depression often goes unrecognized and untreated in older adults, in part because of its atypical presentation and the comorbid medical conditions in this population. Depression may coexist with dementia and is more often seen in patients with certain medical illnesses. Drug therapy is effective in treating depression in 65 to 75% of older patients. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often used in this population because of their proven efficacy, safety, and tolerability. The most common side effects of SSRIs are GI disturbances and headaches, which may be minimized by slow dose escalation. Compared with younger adults, the elderly generally require smaller doses but show a similar time course of response to anti-depressant therapy.
Reynolds
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Mental Health Clinical Research Center for the Study of Late-Life Mood Disorders, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA, USA.
D015057:1-Naphthylamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline
D015057:1-Naphthylamine; D005473:Fluoxetine; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline