[Depression in frail geriatric patients. Diagnostics and treatment]

Frailty is associated with an increased risk of depressive syndromes. This review aims to summarize data on coincidence, clinical presentation, and diagnostic and therapeutic work-up of depression in frail patients. Depressive syndromes in geriatric patients are characterized by increased frequency and intensity of somatic symptoms. There is considerable overlap with symptoms of frailty. Both syndromes indicate an increased risk for subsequent somatic morbidity, worsening depression functional deterioration, admission to a nursing home and mortality. Diagnosis of subthreshold depressive syndromes allows preventive measures to be initiated. Barrier-free access to preventive and therapeutic interventions is essential. Concomitant somatic symptoms in subthreshold depression increase risk of progression to major depression. They must be addressed in an interdisciplinary approach involving geriatric teams and geriatric psychiatry.