Müller-Spahn F, Hock C
Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich, FRG.
Gerontology. 1994;40 Suppl 1:10-4. doi: 10.1159/000213615.
Depressive syndromes and dementia are the most frequent psychiatric disorders in the elderly. Reactive depressive syndromes can be associated with the restriction of social competence due to increasing multi-morbidity, loneliness, social isolation, the consequences of retirement, interpersonal conflicts, and the loss of partners or close relatives. Endogenous depressive syndromes in the elderly are frequently combined with diffuse and changing somatic complaints, psychomotor restlessness and agitation. Furthermore, depressive syndromes can be caused by somatic illness, degenerative disorders, other organic diseases or certain drugs. The presence of simultaneously occurring somatic illness, positive family history, certain personality traits, and severity of disease could exert an adverse influence on clinical outcome. Medical treatment should consider the special pharmacological features of old age, and should be combined with psychotherapy as well as a close involvement of the relatives.
抑郁综合征和痴呆是老年人中最常见的精神障碍。反应性抑郁综合征可能与社会能力受限有关，原因包括多种疾病增多、孤独、社会隔离、退休后果、人际冲突以及伴侣或近亲离世。老年期内源性抑郁综合征常伴有弥漫性且多变的躯体不适、精神运动性不安和激越。此外，抑郁综合征可由躯体疾病、退行性疾病、其他器质性疾病或某些药物引起。同时存在躯体疾病、阳性家族史、某些人格特质以及疾病严重程度可能对临床结局产生不利影响。药物治疗应考虑老年期特殊的药理学特点，且应与心理治疗以及亲属的密切参与相结合。
