Elder Depression: Treatment Indications and Psychopharmacology for Optimum Outcomes-Presentation Slides

Presentation Slides

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This document discusses the treatment indications and psychopharmacology for elder depression. It emphasizes that depression is not a normal part of aging and highlights the prevalence of depression in the elderly population. The document mentions the comorbidity of depression and dementia, as well as the increased risk of cognitive decline in patients with depression. It dispels several myths about the elderly and depression and stresses the importance of appropriate antidepressant use in this population.<br /><br />The document outlines the screening criteria for identifying depressed elders, including assessing suicide risk, comorbid psychiatric and medical illnesses, personal and family history of mood disorder, current medications, and cognitive function. It also lists various rating scales for depression in the elderly.<br /><br />When it comes to antidepressant treatment, the document recommends starting with a low dose and gradually increasing it as tolerated. It highlights the risk of adverse events associated with antidepressants in the elderly, including cardiovascular and central nervous system events, osteoporosis, falls, and fractures. It also mentions the increased risk of extrapyramidal symptoms with certain antidepressants.<br /><br />The document discusses different classes of antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and others. It provides dosing information for each class and highlights the side effects and potential interactions of each antidepressant.<br /><br />In summary, this document provides a comprehensive overview of elder depression, including its prevalence, assessment, and treatment with psychopharmacology. It emphasizes the importance of individualized treatment, careful monitoring, and appropriate use of antidepressants in the elderly population.

Keywords

elder depression

psychopharmacology

treatment indications

aging

comorbidity

dementia

cognitive decline

antidepressant use

screening criteria

rating scales