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 Experiment Videos

Drug therapy for geriatric depression

R Bressler1, M D Katz

  • 1Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson.

Drugs & Aging
|May 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Obesity management and evidence-based pharmacy practice.

American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists·2001
Same author

Intellectual systems for differential diagnostics within groups of hardly distinguished diseases.

Studies in health technology and informatics·2001
Same author

Vena cavography with CO(2) versus with iodinated contrast material for inferior vena cava filter placement: a prospective evaluation.

Radiology·2000
Same author

Use of alternative products: where's the beef?

The Western journal of medicine·2000
Same author

A novel mutation in the CAG triplet region of exon 1 of androgen receptor gene causes complete androgen insensitivity syndrome in a large kindred.

The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism·1999
Same author

Natural potent androgens: lessons from human genetic models.

Bailliere's clinical endocrinology and metabolism·1999
Same journal

Correction: Guideline-Directed Heart Failure Pharmacotherapy in Adults Aged ≥75 Years: Evidence Gaps, Tolerability, and Implications for Clinical Practice.

Drugs & aging·2026
Same journal

Targeted Treatment for Hyperuricemia: The Drug Pipeline.

Drugs & aging·2026
Same journal

Efficacy and Safety of Ciprofol Versus Propofol for Anesthesia in Older Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Drugs & aging·2026
Same journal

Leveraging Real-World Data for Clinical Decision Making in Geriatric Oncology.

Drugs & aging·2026
Same journal

Drug Utilisation of Fall-Risk-Increasing Drugs (FRIDs) and Risk of Hospitalisation: A Nested Case-Control Study Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Drugs & aging·2026
Same journal

Gabapentinoid Use and Risk of Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies.

Drugs & aging·2026
See all related articles

Treating depression in older adults requires careful consideration of drug interactions and potential toxicity. Lower initial doses and slow titration of cyclic antidepressants are recommended, with close monitoring for adverse effects.

Area of Science:

  • Geriatrics
  • Psychiatry
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Depression is prevalent in elderly patients, presenting complex identification and treatment challenges due to comorbidities and polypharmacy.
  • Medical conditions and certain drugs can precipitate depressive symptoms in older adults.
  • Pharmacokinetics of cyclic antidepressants may be altered in the elderly, increasing risks of accumulation and toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the complexities of antidepressant selection and management in elderly patients.
  • To highlight the importance of considering drug interactions, adverse effects, and pharmacokinetic changes in geriatric depression treatment.
  • To provide guidance on appropriate dosing and monitoring strategies for antidepressants in older adults.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Review of existing literature on the pharmacology and clinical use of cyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors in the elderly.
  • Analysis of adverse effect profiles and drug interaction potentials of various antidepressant classes.
  • Examination of pharmacokinetic considerations, including hepatic metabolism and drug clearance in older populations.

Main Results:

  • Cyclic antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), have varying adverse effect profiles, with SSRIs generally causing fewer sedative and anticholinergic effects but potentially leading to insomnia and cardiac issues.
  • All cyclic antidepressants demonstrate comparable efficacy, making the choice dependent on individual risk factors and adverse effect profiles.
  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are effective for atypical depression, but older agents have significant risks; newer reversible MAOIs may offer a safer alternative for the elderly.

Conclusions:

  • Antidepressant therapy is crucial for elderly patients and should not be withheld due to age.
  • Conservative prescribing of cyclic antidepressants in the elderly is essential, involving lower initial doses, slow titration, and vigilant monitoring for adverse drug reactions.
  • Maintenance therapy may be indicated for recurrent depression in older adults, emphasizing a personalized approach based on efficacy and safety.