Lecture 8- Depression and mood disorders

Question 1

Depression at an old age is….

Answer 1

Common, painful, often missed, and ALWAYS treatable

Question 2

Depression in geriatrics should be treated with

Answer 2

a multidimensional approach including consideration for medications, counseling, and individualized efforts by the patient

Question 3

It is commonly held that the best initial medication for most geriatric depression cases should be….

Answer 3

and SSRI

Question 4

In geriatric depression, ECT (electrode therapy) is….

Answer 4

Generally safe, underutilized, and often better than medication

Question 5

SIG- E-CAPS mneumonic - the major diagnostic criteria for depression

Answer 5

S- Sleep
I- Interest in outside activites
G- Guild
E- Energy level
C- Concentration
A- Appetite
P- Psychomotor
S- Sadness/suicide

Question 6

What percentage of older people suffer from minor depression?

Answer 6

15%

- can be cause by… use of health services, excess disability, poor health outcomes, including increased mortality

Question 7

What are the two screening “tests” given for depression?

Answer 7

1. 9-item patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9)
   - not reliable in patients with dementia
2. Geriatric depression scale-
   - yes/no format

Question 8

Older age is associated with a ____ risk of suicide

Answer 8

Increased