Introduction............................................ 4
Depression Among
Older Patients..................... 4
Common Myths about
Depression..................... 5
Who gets depressed?............................ 6
Strong Risk Factors............................................. 6
Weaker Risk Factors........................................... 6
Still More Risk
Factors......................................... 7
Risk Factors Specific
to the
Older Patient................................................... 8
Symptoms of Depression...................... 9
Description of
Symptoms.................................... 9
Physical Complaints.......................................... 11
Common Symptoms in
the Elderly................... 11
Types of Depression............................. 12
Grief Induced
Depression................................ 13
Atypical Depression.......................................... 14
Dysthymia........................................................... 15
Major Depressive
Disorder (MDD)................... 15
Seasonal Affective
Disorder (SAD)................. 15
Bipolar Disorder................................................. 16
When to Seek Help................................ 17
Diagnosis of Depression..................... 18
Biological Causes................................. 20
Chemical Imbalance ......................................... 20
Family History of
Depression............................ 21
Medications........................................................ 22
Diet..................................................................... 22
Treatment............................................... 23
Medical Therapy.................................... 25
First Line Drugs................................................. 25
Additional Drug
Therapies................................ 31
Minimizing Drug Side
Effects............................ 35
Special Situations.............................................. 36
Psychotherapy/ other therapies..... 39
Self Help............................................................. 39
Professional Help.............................................. 40
Additional Therapies.......................................... 41
Overall Plan of Therapy.................... 43
Initial Therapy..................................................... 43
Follow-up............................................................ 43
Treatment Duration............................................ 44
Stopping Medication.......................................... 44
Support Groups.................................... 46
