Elderly depressed females as a possible subgroup of patients responsive to methylphenidate.

The records of 13 medically ill geriatric patients whose depression interfered with their participation in a hospital rehabilitation program were retrospectively reviewed. Treatment with methylphenidate at dosages ranging from 2.5 mg/day to 20 mg/day produced mild to marked improvement in 54% of the patients; the fact that 6 of the 7 responders were female may be indicative of a more responsive subgroup. Methylphenidate treatment of illness-related, nonpsychotic depression in the elderly appears to be an effective, quick-acting, and relatively safe therapeutic option.