Depression in male geropsychiatric inpatients with and without dementia: a naturalistic study.
The authors compared the presentation and course of major depression in male geriatric inpatients with and without a diagnosis of dementia. Of 326 consecutive admissions to an inpatient geropsychiatry unit, 22 (7%) had a diagnosis of major depression without dementia, 35 (11%) had major depression with dementia. Both groups presented with similar types and severity of depressive symptoms, which improved substantially with treatment in both groups, as measured by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores. In addition, agitation, psychiatric, and side-effects symptoms decreased significantly in both groups. Our naturalistic results suggest the clinical value of intensive treatment of depressive symptoms in elderly demented patients, whether or not they meet the criteria for major depressive episode.
Nahas
Z
Z
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Kunik
M E
ME
Orengo
C A
CA
Molinari
V
V
Workman
R
R
D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents