Depression in older people must be taken seriously

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Practice + Older people

Depression in older people must be taken seriously

Ngaire Kerse

Saturday 21 December 2024, 12:30 PM

Music and dance can be beneficial for older people with depressive symptoms [Image: Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels]

We are on our summer break and the editorial office is closed until 13 January. In the meantime, please enjoy our Summer Hiatus series, in which our journalists curate an eclectic mix from our news and clinical archives throughout the year, The Conversation and other publications we share content with. Please note the comment function has been turned off while we are away. Happy reading!

This article was first published online on 27 March.

Specialist GP Ngaire Kerse examines depression in older people, including how to manage treatment-resistant depression

Key points, In older adults with depression, the first thing is to screen for more major psychiatric conditions and manage medical conditions. Psychological the, Pract Green w Pale Yellow

Older People

Mental Health

Medicines and Therapies

References

1. Steffens DC. Treatment-resistant depression in older adults. N Engl J Med 2024;390(7):630–39.

2. Rush AJ, Trivedi MH, Wisniewski SR, et al. Acute and longer-term outcomes in depressed outpatients requiring one or several treatment steps: a STAR*D report. Am J Psychiatry 2006;163(11):1905–17.

Summer Hiatus archive

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How to Treat

+How to treat

Polypharmacy

For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 12:50 AM