[Treatment with antidepressants in geriatric departments. Occurrence and record keeping]

The aim of the present study was to describe the occurrence of antidepressant treatment in geriatric departments in Denmark and assess the notes of the patient records in connection with prescription.

Patient records for consecutively referred patients in seven geriatric departments were examined and basic information was noted. For users of antidepressants further information about the treatment was noted.

A total of 1211 patients records were examined and out of these 338 patients were in treatment with antidepressants (29.7%). The users of antidepressants used more drugs on their discharge from the hospital. For 61.8% (209/338) of the users the treatment had started before the admission and in more than three-fourths the treatment remained unchanged at their discharge, in 9% the treatment was discontinued. 38.2% (129/338) started their treatment during the admission. Depression was stated as being the main reason in 54% of those who continued an ongoing treatment, and in 78% of those who started their treatment during admission. In 98.4%, the beginning of treatment with antidepressants was based upon the file notes. In 34.8% of the records of ongoing treatment no file notes were given.

Treatment with antidepressants is common in geriatric departments and most often it is a question of continuation of a treatment that had started before the admission. The study shows that there is a need for an optimization of the file notes.