Depression in Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract

Depression is one of the most frequent comorbid psychiatric disorders in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, and is associated with poorer quality of life, greater disability in activities of daily living, a faster cognitive decline, a high rate of nursing home placement, relatively higher mortality and a higher frequency of depression and burden in caregivers. Depression in Alzheimer's disease is markedly under-diagnosed and most patients with depression are either not treated or are on subclinical doses of antidepressants. Recent randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the efficacy of sertraline and moclobemide to treat depression in Alzheimer's disease. Other psychoactive compounds may be useful as well, but careful consideration must be given to potentially serious side effects.

• Authors: Sergio E Starkstein, Romina Mizrahi
• Journal: Expert review of neurotherapeutics (Expert Rev Neurother) Vol. 6 Issue 6 Pg. 887-95 (Jun 2006) ISSN: 1744-8360 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 16784411 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
• Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors

Topics

• Alzheimer Disease (psychology)
• Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic (therapeutic use)
• Depression (diagnosis, epidemiology, etiology, therapy)
• Electroshock
• Humans
• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Prevalence
• Psychotherapy
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Time Factors