Author/Editor		Kores-Plesničar, Blanka
Title		Zdravljenje depresij starejših
Translated title		Treatment of depression in the elderly
Type		članek
Source		In: Kogoj A, editor. Zdravljenje demenc: depresija in motnje spoznavnih sposobnost. Zbornik prispevkov 1. psihogeriatrično srečanje; 1998 nov 27-28; Kranjska Gora. Ljubljana: Združenje za pomoč pri demenci,
Publication year		1998
Volume		str. 74-81
Language		slo
Abstract		Most depressive episodes require pharmacological treatment, regardless of the age group. Principal requirement for the beginning of this treatment is a correct diagnosis and consideration of patient's demographic characteristics and his/hers physical status. However, this might prove to be quite a big step in the whole treatment process since depressive disorders can appear co-morbidly or cosymptomatically with other mental disorders, or they can be interwoven with somatic illnesses. Only the correct choice of antidepressive treatment can meet the criteria of good treatment (reduced symptoms and signs of depression, reduced risk of recurrence, increased quality of life, reduced morbidity and mortality and reduced costs of treatment). Clinical efficacy of various antidepressive agents is quite comparable, therefore the first and deciding factor in chosing antidepressive treatment for the elderly is their profile of side effects hence; the elderly are particularly sensitive to these side effects. Sometimes we can be misled to ascribe them to the deterioration of the primary condition. The same goes also for the dosage of antidepressive agents, i.e. increasing and/or adapting the doses. Polipharmacy in the elderly is frequently mentioned but rarely given enough consideration.
Descriptors		DEPRESSIVE DISORDER ANTIDEPRESSIVE AGENTS DRUG INTERACTIONS AGED