TIANEPTINE THERAPY FOR DEPRESSION IN THE ELDERLY

1. Depression is frequent in the elderly but difficult both to diagnos e and treat due to a number of distinctive features. 2. Tianeptine is a novel antidepressant with a reverse mode of action to that of the se lective serotonin reuptake inhibitors yet with proven efficacy and saf ety. 3. 63 elderly patients (mean age:68.8 years; range:65-80 years) w ith depressive symptoms (major depression:55.6%; dysthymia:44.4%) were included in a 3-month open multicenter study with tianeptine (25 mg d aily). 4. 43 patients (68.2%) completed the study. There were no drop- outs due to side-effects. Total Montgomery and Asberg Depression Ratin g Scale scores were significantly decreased (p<0.01) on day 14, with a response rate of 76.7%. 5. improvements were also observed in anxiety and cognitive performance. Side-effects were seen in only 11.7% of pa tients, with no changes in laboratory or ancillary safety parameters. Tianeptine is thus effective and well tolerated in this category of pa tient.