Depression without sadness: alternative presentations of depression in late life.
Older adults often deny feeling sad while exhibiting other characteristics of depression. Elderly patients with depression who do not present with sadness often have unexplained somatic complaints and exhibit a sense of hopelessness. Anxiety and anhedonia (a general loss of ability to feel pleasure) are also encountered frequently. Other features that may indicate underlying depression include slowness of movement and lack of interest in personal care. A screening device, such as the Center for Epidemiologic Studies--Depression Scale, Revised (CES-D-R), may identify depression in suspicious cases. When this condition is identified, treatment should generally include the use of an antidepressant medication, usually a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
Gallo
J J
JJ
Department of Family Practice and Community Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.
Rabins
P V
PV
D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors