Depression in Later Life: An Overview with Treatment Recommendations

摘要

A focus on the disorders older adults has never been more timely because of the rapid worldwide increase in numbers among members of this age group. In the United States, adults age 65 and older comprised 12.8% of the population in 2010. By 2050, an estimated 20.2% of the population will be 65 and older.The debilitating effects of depression in later life have been well documented. Depression is a major source of disability among the elderly, responsible for 5.2% of years lived with disability, a degree of morbidity exceeded only by that associated with age-related vision disorders, cataracts, dementias, adult-onset hearing loss, cerebrovascular disease, or osteoarthritis.5 Furthermore, depression in the elderly is associated with a significant increment in health care costs. In one study, even after adjustment for chronic medical illness, the total ambulatory costs were 43% to 52% higher, and total ambulatory and inpatient costs were 47% to 51% higher in depressed compared with nondepressed elderly patients.