title: Depression in dementia.
abstract: People with dementia of any type have a high incidence of major depression. The occurrence of a first major depressive episode in an older adult is a risk factor for developing dementia. Management of depression in a person with dementia should be enthusiastic with an aim to optimise quality of life. Non-pharmacological and pharmacological strategies are both important in treating depression in dementia and management of these patients requires a collaborative approach. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the first-line pharmacotherapy for depression in dementia, although they are less likely to be effective in older people.
authors: Senior psychiatry specialist, Concord Hospital, Sydney.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Kitching
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; antidepressants; dementia; depression