Steffens David C
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Int Rev Psychiatry. 2008 Aug;20(4):374-81. doi: 10.1080/09540260802094589.
Disentangling depression from dementia remains one of the most difficult clinical challenges for psychiatrists caring for older adults. The relationship between geriatric depression and dementia is complex for several reasons. First, cognitive impairment is often a prominent feature of depression in the elderly. Cognition may improve with successful treatment of depression but it may not normalize. Indeed, marked memory impairment in older depressed individuals may indicate a prodromal state of dementia. This review will examine issues related to depression and cognitive disorder in the elderly. The author will provide an evidence-based approach to separate mood disorder from cognitive disorder among older adults.
对于照顾老年人的精神科医生来说，区分抑郁症和痴呆症仍然是最困难的临床挑战之一。老年抑郁症和痴呆症之间的关系很复杂，原因有几个。首先，认知障碍往往是老年人抑郁症的一个突出特征。随着抑郁症的成功治疗，认知功能可能会改善，但可能不会恢复正常。事实上，老年抑郁症患者明显的记忆障碍可能表明处于痴呆症的前驱状态。本综述将探讨与老年人抑郁症和认知障碍相关的问题。作者将提供一种基于证据的方法，以区分老年人中的情绪障碍和认知障碍。
