Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
03:59
Therapeutic Massage for Psychological Well-being in Geriatric Oncology
Published on: May 22, 2026
Consensus of the SEPG on depression in the elderly
M Martín-Carrasco1, L Agüera-Ortiz, L Caballero-Martínez
1Clínica Psiquiátrica Padre Menni, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. manuelmartin@intersep.org
Actas Espanolas De Psiquiatria
|January 29, 2011
Summary
This study developed expert consensus recommendations for treating depression in elderly patients in Spain. The goal is to unify clinical practices and improve therapeutic efficiency for older adults.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Limited clinical-epidemiological data on treating elderly depression leads to varied practices in Spain.
- The Spanish Society of Psychogeriatrics (SEPG) identified the need for unified treatment criteria.
Framework:
- Modified Delphi Consensus methodology employed for expert agreement.
- Utilized a multi-phase approach including a Scientific Committee and a Panel of Experts.
Implementation:
- A two-round postal survey was conducted with 61 experts.
- Consensus was achieved on 46 out of 54 (85%) proposed recommendations.
Implications:
- Presents unified clinical recommendations to rationalize depression treatment in the elderly.
- Aims to reduce practice variability and improve care quality for geriatric patients.
- Recommendations are valid until new scientific evidence necessitates revision.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Depression: 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,...
01:05Long-term Depression
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
01:03Long-term Depression
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
01:15Drug 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...
01:27Depressive 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...
01:27Pharmacodynamics 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...