Pharmacotherapy of affective disorders in old age.

OBJECTIVE

To present a clinical guide for the selection of safe and effective pharmacological treatment for depressed geriatric patients.

METHOD

A review of the use of antidepressants in the elderly is presented based on clinical experience and a search of MEDLINE and PsychInfo data bases. Emphasis is placed on the following newer antidepressants: fluvoxamine, sertraline, paroxetine, nefazodone, venlafaxine, and moclobemide.

RESULTS

With the advent of newer antidepressants, physicians have been given a wider range of generally safer antidepressant medications. Although these medications appear to have favourable side effect profile in elderly patients, this review is limited because there are few published studies of the use of these newer antidepressants in the elderly.

CONCLUSION

Depression is a common psychiatric problem in old age, but it can usually be treated successfully. Although the use of antidepressants in geriatric populations is more likely to be complicated by poorly tolerated side effects and drug interactions than in younger patients, this review should help clinicians use currently available medications to the best advantage of their geriatric patients.