Drug and ECT treatment of depression in the elderly, 1996–2001: a literature review

Salzman, Carl; Wong, Eileen; Wright, Brian

doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(02)01337-9

Cited by 75 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 143 publications

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“…15 It has been suggested that it is possible to predict early during treatment lack of response in older individuals, 14,16 while others reported that an adequate clinical trial duration for older individuals requires 12 weeks because of late antidepressant response in older compared with younger patients. [8][9][10] Finally, late life depression has been reported to be more prone to a chronic course, 17 although this finding has not been definitely confirmed. 18 The aim of the present study was to compare the pattern of antidepressant response to the same antidepressant, fluvoxamine, in young ( 60 years) and old (>60 years) inpatients affected by a major depressive episode.…”

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confidence: 94%

“…5 Several studies have shown that, despite such a high prevalence, only a small percentage of older subjects affected by a major depressive episode receives a specific treatment. [6][7][8] Antidepressant therapy guidelines in the elderly were proposed in recent years 9 , deriving from pharmacological comparison trials (for a review, see 10 ). In these studies, antidepressants are reported to be equally effective in older compared with younger depressed during the acute phase of treatment.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Comparison of Response to Fluvoxamine in Nondemented Elderly Compared to Younger Patients Affected by Major Depression

Zanardi

Cusin²,

Rossini³

et al. 2003

Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology

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Although it is well established that the diagnosis and treatment of depression in the elderly are major health care problems, the relative efficacy of antidepressant treatment in the elderly compared with younger adults has not been definitively established. In this study, we analyzed antidepressant response in 528 nondemented consecutive inpatients affected by a major depressive episode. The sample was divided based on a cut-off of 60 years (< or = 60 n = 354; mean age 46.6 +/- 10.4 years; > 60 n = 174; mean age 66.1 +/- 4.2 years); all the patients were treated with fluvoxamine for at least 6 weeks and they were assessed weekly by using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Fluvoxamine proved to be effective in our elderly sample, even if antidepressant response was lower in the elderly compared with that of younger subjects (chi2 = 6.27, P = 0.01). Moreover, when compared with younger subjects, the older ones showed significantly slower reduction of depressive symptoms (P = 0.0006). This difference between the 2 age groups was evident since the 2nd week of treatment, and it appeared to be independent of other clinical variables.

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confidence: 94%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Response to Fluvoxamine in Nondemented Elderly Compared to Younger Patients Affected by Major Depression

Zanardi

Cusin²,

Rossini³

et al. 2003

Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology

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“…From recent studies it may be concluded that ECT could be a more efficacious treatment in the elderly compared with younger adults (Tew et al, 1999) and more efficacious as antidepressants (Salzman et al, 2002). Furthermore, after a successful course of ECT, maintenance or continuation ECT (M-ECT) may be used to prevent relapse (Calvin-Russel et al, 2003;Vothknecht et al, 2003;Kellner et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of ECT on cognitive functioning in the elderly: a review

Tielkes

Comijs

Verwijk

et al. 2008

Int J Geriat Psychiatry

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“…Antidepressants are increasingly prescribed since the 1990s, yet pharmacotherapeutic treatment of depression is still inadequate due to insufficient dosing and short period of treatment (Fischer et al, 2003;Salzman et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antidepressants Reduce the Risk of Suicide among Elderly Depressed Patients

Barak

Olmer

Aizenberg

2005

Neuropsychopharmacol

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Treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may increase the risk of impulsive acts including suicide, while data from epidemiological studies suggest that the effect of SSRIs in the elderly may be beneficial. We aimed to evaluate the association between exposure to antidepressants and suicidality in a cohort of elderly patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD). This was a retrospective matched case-controlled evaluation over a 10-year period. All records of admissions of patients with MDD (ICD-10) were assessed. The index group comprised all patients who had attempted suicide in the month prior to admission. The case-controlled group was the next admission of a patient suffering from MDD, matched for sex and age who had not attempted suicide in the month prior to admission. The index group during the 10-year period (1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004) consisted of 101 patients suffering from MDD who were hospitalized following a suicide attempt. Mean age for the group was 76.576.6 years; there were 42 men and 59 women. The control group patients (N ¼ 101) were matched for age (mean 76.676.9 years) and sex. The proportion of patients exposed to an antidepressant was significantly greater in the control group, than in the group of patients who had attempted suicide (58 vs 42%, odds ratio 1.94 (95% CI: 1.1-3.4), p ¼ 0.019). SSRIs were prescribed in 29% of patients in the control group vs 21% of patients in the index group (p ¼ 0.03). It is of interest to note that concomitant prescription of benzodiazepines also conferred a protective effect. In conclusion, elderly depressed patients treated with antidepressants may be at reduced risk of attempting suicide. These findings need support from prospective randomized trials.

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Drug and ECT treatment of depression in the elderly, 1996–2001: a literature review

Cited by 75 publications

References 143 publications

Comparison of Response to Fluvoxamine in Nondemented Elderly Compared to Younger Patients Affected by Major Depression

Comparison of Response to Fluvoxamine in Nondemented Elderly Compared to Younger Patients Affected by Major Depression

The effects of ECT on cognitive functioning in the elderly: a review

Antidepressants Reduce the Risk of Suicide among Elderly Depressed Patients

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