Diagnosis and management of late life depression: a guide for the primary care physician.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to provide a brief and practical approach for the primary care physician regarding the recognition, diagnosis, and management of depression in elderly patients.


METHODS
Empirical evidence and current recommendations regarding the recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of depression are reviewed as the basis for this approach. Appropriate modifications for geriatric depression are added where indicated.


RESULTS
The recommendations are listed by category and briefly explained.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important to be vigilant for the variety of depressive presentations that occur in older primary care patients. Neurological causes of depression (such as stroke), suicide, and a longer time to recovery are all more frequent concerns in older depressed patients.
Conn
D K
DK
Department of Psychiatry, Baycrest Center for Geriatric Care, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Steingart
A B
AB
D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011320:Primary Health Care