DEPRESSION IN MALE GEROPSYCHIATRIC INPATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT DEMENTIA - A NATURALISTIC STUDY

The authors compared the presentation and course of major depression i n male geriatric inpatients with and without a diagnosis of dementia. Of 326 consecutive admissions to an inpatient geropsychiatry unit, 22 (7%) had a diagnosis of major depression without dementia, 35 (11%) ha d major depression with dementia. Both groups presented with similar t ypes and severity of depressive symptoms, which improved substantially with treatment in both groups, as measured by Hamilton Depression Rat ing Scale scores. In addition, agitation, psychiatric, and side-effect s symptoms decreased significantly in both groups. Our naturalistic re sults suggest the clinical value of intensive treatment of depressive symptoms in elderly demented patients, whether or not they meet the cr iteria for major depressive episode. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.