title: Depression in the elderly. Myths and misconceptions.
abstract: Despite myths to the contrary, existing evidence suggests that depression in the elderly is not different in its symptoms, more frequent, more chronic, more difficult to treat, or more attributable to psychosocial factors than depression in younger persons. The degree to which the pessimism generated by the untruths has overshadowed the realities uncovered by careful scientific inquiry is a disservice to older adults experiencing late-life depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Blazer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis