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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats

Published on: February 22, 2018

Depression in older adults.

Amy Fiske¹, Julie Loebach Wetherell, Margaret Gatz

¹Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. Amy.Fiske@mail.wvu.edu

Annual Review of Clinical Psychology

|March 31, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Late-life depression, though less common, has severe outcomes and unique symptoms. Key risk factors include genetics, neurobiology, stress, and insomnia, but resilience and social support can protect older adults.

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Area of Science:

Gerontology
Psychiatry
Neuroscience

Background:

Depression is less prevalent in older adults but carries significant risks, including higher suicide rates.
Over half of late-life depression cases are first-onset.
Older adults often present with cognitive and somatic symptoms rather than affective ones.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the unique characteristics, risk factors, and protective elements of late-life depression.
To highlight effective but underutilized treatments and preventive strategies for geriatric depression.

Main Methods:

Literature review and synthesis of existing research on late-life depression.
Analysis of risk factors, including genetic, neurobiological, and psychosocial elements.
Examination of psychological resilience and protective factors in older populations.

Main Results:

Late-life depression involves complex interactions of genetic, cognitive, neurobiological, and stress-related factors.
Insomnia and curtailment of daily activities are significant risk factors.
Psychological resilience, education, socioeconomic status, and social engagement are protective.

Conclusions:

Effective treatments like CBT and psychodynamic therapy are underused in older adults.
Preventive interventions including behavioral activation and problem-solving training show promise.
Addressing late-life depression requires tailored approaches considering unique symptom presentation and risk factors.