[Depression in elderly]

Abstract

Depression is frequent among aged persons and its diagnosis is difficult, because certain clinical presentations are unusual, explaining undertreatment. Depression is observed not only in ancient depressive people but can also be shown on elderly without previous mood disorders. Somatic symptoms often mask depression. More over, somatic diseases can interfere with depression. A hypochondria is always associated with depression in old patients, patients expressing in this a particular way a psychological pain. Loss of motivation is sometime a depression in aged people, associated with a dysexecutive syndrome or, elsewhere, aggressiveness can reveals a hostile depression. At a worst stage of the disease, in particular, when a dementia is latent, confusion is present. A therapeutic test with an antidepressant can help to discriminate between a dementia with depressive symptoms or a depression with a confusion. But, even if the cognitive disorders disappear with the treatment, a dementia can appear years after.