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Psychiatria pre prax 2/2022
Late-life depression
The most common disorder in an advanced age except dementia remains late-life depression. Ethiology of this serious process is complicated. There are important factors such as biological factors, psychosocial stress, and in lesser extent genetic factors. Depression by itself can cause social deprivation, isolation, and complication in daily life. It increases risk of alcohol and drug consumption and loss of self-care. Depression influences not only patient bud also his relatives. It presents not only an escalating financial drain on the patient’s family and estate but also a public health concern. Antidepressant treatment is effective and safe.
Keywords: depression, elderly patients, dementia, pharmacotherapy
