Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of the National Medical Association logoLink to Journal of the National Medical Association
. 1991 Apr;83(4):340–344.

A contrast: geriatric depression versus depression in younger age groups.

F M Baker 1
PMCID: PMC2627062  PMID: 1920507

Abstract

A major depressive illness can occur at any stage of the life cycle. This article discusses the various presentations of depressive illness in older persons and contrasts these disorders with other age groups. A mnemonic based on the word "depression" provides a summary of several causes of depressive illness. The discussion concludes with a few comments on the diagnosis and screening for depression.

Full text

PDF
340

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Alexopoulos G. S., Young R. C., Meyers B. S., Abrams R. C., Shamoian C. A. Late-onset depression. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 1988 Mar;11(1):101–115. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Derogatis L. R., Morrow G. R., Fetting J., Penman D., Piasetsky S., Schmale A. M., Henrichs M., Carnicke C. L., Jr The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among cancer patients. JAMA. 1983 Feb 11;249(6):751–757. doi: 10.1001/jama.249.6.751. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Evans N. J., Baldwin J. A., Gath D. Ehe incidence of cancer among in-patients with affective disorders. Br J Psychiatry. 1974 Jun;124(0):518–525. doi: 10.1192/bjp.124.6.518. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Frederick C. J. Current trends in suicidal behavior in the United States. Am J Psychother. 1978 Apr;32(2):172–200. doi: 10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.1978.32.2.172. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Gurland B. J., Cross P. S. Epidemiology of Psychopathology in old age. Some implications for clinical services. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 1982 Apr;5(1):11–26. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Gurland B. J. The comparative frequency of depression in various adult age groups. J Gerontol. 1976 May;31(3):283–292. doi: 10.1093/geronj/31.3.283. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. KAY D. W., BEAMISH P., ROTH M. OLD AGE MENTAL DISORDERS IN NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE. I. A STUDY OF PREVALENCE. Br J Psychiatry. 1964 Mar;110:146–158. doi: 10.1192/bjp.110.465.146. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Kramer B. A. Electroconvulsive therapy use in geriatric depression. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1987 Apr;175(4):233–235. doi: 10.1097/00005053-198704000-00008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Lipsey J. R., Robinson R. G., Pearlson G. D., Rao K., Price T. R. Nortriptyline treatment of post-stroke depression: a double-blind study. Lancet. 1984 Feb 11;1(8372):297–300. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(84)90356-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Meyers B. S., Alexopoulos G. S. Geriatric depression. Med Clin North Am. 1988 Jul;72(4):847–866. doi: 10.1016/s0025-7125(16)30748-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Post F. The management and nature of depressive illnesses in late life: a follow-through study. Br J Psychiatry. 1972 Oct;121(563):393–404. doi: 10.1192/bjp.121.4.393. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Robinson R. G., Benson D. F. Depression in aphasic patients: frequency, severity, and clinical-pathological correlations. Brain Lang. 1981 Nov;14(2):282–291. doi: 10.1016/0093-934x(81)90080-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Rosenberg M. L., Smith J. C., Davidson L. E., Conn J. M. The emergence of youth suicide: an epidemiologic analysis and public health perspective. Annu Rev Public Health. 1987;8:417–440. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pu.08.050187.002221. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Rosenthal M. P., Goldfarb N. I., Carlson B. L., Sagi P. C., Balaban D. J. Assessment of depression in a family practice center. J Fam Pract. 1987 Aug;25(2):143–149. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Ruegg R. G., Zisook S., Swerdlow N. R. Depression in the aged. An overview. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 1988 Mar;11(1):83–99. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Salkind M. R. Beck depression inventory in general practice. J R Coll Gen Pract. 1969 Nov;18(88):267–271. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Weissman M. M., Myers J. K., Thompson W. D. Depression and its treatment in a US urban community-1975-1976. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1981 Apr;38(4):417–421. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1981.01780290051005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Wells C. E. Pseudodementia. Am J Psychiatry. 1979 Jul;136(7):895–900. doi: 10.1176/ajp.136.7.895. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Yesavage J. A., Brink T. L., Rose T. L., Lum O., Huang V., Adey M., Leirer V. O. Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: a preliminary report. J Psychiatr Res. 1982;17(1):37–49. doi: 10.1016/0022-3956(82)90033-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. ZUNG W. W. A SELF-RATING DEPRESSION SCALE. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1965 Jan;12:63–70. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1965.01720310065008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of the National Medical Association are provided here courtesy of National Medical Association

RESOURCES