17Jul 2017

TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION IN ELDERLY.

  • Department of Psychiatry, St. John?s Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
  • Department of Pharmacology, RAK College of Medical Sciences, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.
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Depression is one of the common health problem in elderly population. It significantly affects patients, families, and communities. A knowledge of predisposing and precipitating factors can help identify patients in need of treatment using tools such as the Geriatric Depression Scale. Proper medication and regular follow up are the two important aspects of management of depression in the elderly. Choice of an antidepressant drug should be based on best side effect profile and lowest risk of drug-drug interaction. The altered pharmacokinetics of antidepressants in the elderly should be borne in mind while selecting the drug and its dose. Electroconvulsive therapy is recommended in severe, psychotic, or refractory depression in the elderly.

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[Bhavya K Bairy and Laxminarayana K Bairy. (2017); TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION IN ELDERLY. Int. J. of Adv. Res. 5 (Jul). 587-592] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com

DR. BHAVYA K BAIRY
SENIOR RESIDENT, DEPT OF PSYCHIATRY, ST JOHNS MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL, BENGALURU - 34

DOI:

Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/4756      
DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/4756

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