Depression in Older Adults in the Primary Care Setting: Evaluation, Treatment and Consideration of Comorbid Medical Conditions and Cognitive Symptoms

Major depression in older adults is a common disorder that is suitable for management in the primary care setting. This review will focus on screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of geriatric depression in primary care. It will emphasize use of self-report measures to assist with diagnosis as well as strategies to assess suicidal ideation and suicide risk. Initial treatment with antidepressants and psychotherapy will be reviewed. Special considerations in this population will be discussed, including management of depression in the context of comorbid medical disorders and cognitive impairment. The review concludes with an overview of management of treatment refractory depression in primary care, indications for referral, and length of antidepressant treatment.

Duke Scholars

Author David Carl Steffens Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Adult Psychiatry & Psychol ...