LATE-LIFE DEPRESSION - HOW TO MAKE A DIFFICULT DIAGNOSIS - A ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION .1.

Approximately 15% of persons age 65 and older have major depression. R isk factors include a recent loss (eg, widowhood or mastectomy), livin g alone, co-morbidities (eg, hypertension, stroke, cognitive deficits) , and drug interactions. Warning signs of depression may include weigh t loss, sleep problems, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, loss of in terest in sexual relations, or changes in activities of daily living. The diagnosis of depression is easy to miss if the physician doesn't l ook for it, because older persons often don't mention feeling depresse d. Yet undetected depression can be deadly for older patients, who hav e the highest rate of suicide among all Americans. Plans for suicide m ay be direct or covert, as in not eating or not taking heart medicatio n.