Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia01:27

Depressive Disorders: MDD and Dysthymia

Depressive disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by pervasive feelings of sadness, diminished pleasure in life, and a significant impact on daily functioning. These conditions are most prevalent in individuals during their 30s and affect women at twice the rate of men. Contrary to popular belief, younger individuals are generally more susceptible to these disorders than older adults. Two key types of depressive disorders include Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and...
Depression: Overview01:18

Depression: Overview

Depression is a prevalent mental illness marked by persistent sadness and lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities. It can take several forms, including major depression, persistent depressive disorder, and bipolar I and II disorders. Symptoms range from emotional changes like chronic worry to physical changes like sleep disturbances and suicidal thoughts. From a neurobiological perspective, depression is believed to be triggered by abnormalities in the brain's prefrontal cortex,...
Depressive Disorders: Etiology01:27

Depressive Disorders: Etiology

Depressive disorders result from a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors, each contributing uniquely to the development and persistence of the condition. Understanding these factors provides critical insight into the multifaceted nature of depression.
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age01:27

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients01:15

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview01:26

Alzheimer's Disease: Overview

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Fluoxetine in the elderly.

Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien·2011
Same author

Diagnosis of dementia in individuals with intellectual disability.

Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR·1997
Same author

Conversion mutism: case report and discussion.

Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie·1985
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans
08:29

Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans

Published on: December 18, 2016

Depressive disorders in old age: an overview.

L U Thorpe

    Canadian Family Physician Medecin De Famille Canadien
    |January 21, 2011
    PubMed
    Summary

    Severe depression affects 10-20% of older adults, often presenting atypically. Early diagnosis and careful antidepressant use are key for successful treatment in the elderly population.

    Area of Science:

    • Geriatrics
    • Psychiatry
    • Mental Health

    Background:

    • Severe depression is a common health issue in the elderly, affecting 10-20% of this population.
    • Atypical presentations of major depression in older adults complicate diagnosis.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To highlight the prevalence and atypical presentations of severe depression in the elderly.
    • To discuss diagnostic challenges and treatment considerations for geriatric depression.

    Main Methods:

    • Review of literature on geriatric depression.
    • Analysis of common atypical presentations: masked depression, pseudodementia, delusional depression.
    • Consideration of diagnostic complexities due to comorbidities and polypharmacy.

    Main Results:

    More Related Videos

    Therapeutic Massage for Psychological Well-being in Geriatric Oncology
    03:59

    Therapeutic Massage for Psychological Well-being in Geriatric Oncology

    Published on: May 22, 2026

    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

    Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans
    08:29

    Symmetric Bihemispheric Postmortem Brain Cutting to Study Healthy and Pathological Brain Conditions in Humans

    Published on: December 18, 2016

    Therapeutic Massage for Psychological Well-being in Geriatric Oncology
    03:59

    Therapeutic Massage for Psychological Well-being in Geriatric Oncology

    Published on: May 22, 2026

    • Elderly individuals with depression often exhibit masked symptoms, cognitive impairment resembling dementia, or delusions.
    • Co-existing physical ailments and multiple medications complicate accurate diagnosis.
    • Antidepressant therapy is effective but requires caution due to increased sensitivity to side effects in the elderly.

    Conclusions:

    • Recognizing atypical depression symptoms is crucial for timely diagnosis in older patients.
    • Careful management, including cautious antidepressant prescribing, is necessary for effective geriatric depression treatment.