Depression in the aged: dynamics and treatment.

Depression is one of the common threats to the mental health of the aged. The chief cause is the interiorization of the personality and the growth of inferiority feelings due to poor adjustment to retirement, widowhood, and/or chronic physical conditions. Psychotherapy for geriatric depression can be done by a primary care physician. Specific guidelines are given for the use of psychotherapy, psychotropics, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with aged patients suffering from depression in conjunction with various complications (suicidal risk, chronic brain syndrome, hypochondriasis, and paranoia).