Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Depression in Late Life: An Update

  • Chapter
Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics

Abstract

No monograph, much less a review, can do justice to the advances in the clinical investigation of the affective disorders. Well-designed empirical community and clinical studies have changed the clinical perspective on late-life depression, not just complemented the extant studies of 10 years ago. In this review, I will concentrate upon those recent studies that have direct clinical relevance to the care of the depressed older adult.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Abrams, R. (1986). Is unilateral electroconvulsive therapy really the treatment of choice in endogenous depression? In S. Malitz & H. A. Sackeim (Eds.), Electroconvulsive therapy: Clinical and basic research issues. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 462, 50–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blazer, D. (in press). The epidemiology of depression in late life. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blazer, D., Bachar, J. R., & Hughes, D. C. (1987). Major depression with melancholia: A comparison of middle-aged and elderly adults. Journal of American Geriatrics Society, 35, 927–932.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blazer, D. G., Bachar, J. R., & Manton, K. G. (1986). Suicide in late life: Review and commentary. Journal of American Geriatrics Society, 34, 519–525.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blazer, D., Hughes, D. C., & George, L. K. (1987). The epidemiology of depression in an elderly community population. The Gerontologist, 27, 281–287.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blazer, D., & Williams, C. D. (1980). Epidemiology of dysphoria and depression in an elderly population. American Journal of Psychiatry, 137, 439–444.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bradburn, N. M., & Caplovitz, D. (1965). Reports on happiness. Chicago: Aldine.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buckley, C., Curtin, D., Walsh, T., & O’Malley, K. (1986). Aging and platelet az-adrenoceptors (Letter). British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 21, 721–722.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burns, M., Moskowitz, H., & Jaffe, J. (1986). A comparison of the effects of trazodone and amitriptyline on skills performance by geriatric subjects. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 47, 252–254.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, B. J., Feinberg, M., Greden, J. F., Tarika, J., Albala, A. A., & Hasket, R. F. (1981). A specific laboratory test for the diagnosis of melancholia: Standardization, validation, & clinical utility. Archives of General Psychiatry, 38, 15–22.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coffey, C. E., Figiel, G. S., Djang, W.T., Sullivan, D. C., Herfkens, R. J., & Weiner, R. D. (1988). Effects of ECT on brain structure: A pilot prospective magnetic resonance imaging study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 145, 701–706.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, K. L., Davis, B. M., Mathé, A. A., Mohs, R. C., Rothpearl, A. B., Levy, M., Gorman, L. K., & Berger, P. (1984). Age and the dexamethasone suppression test in depression. American Journal of Psychiatry, 141, 872–874.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dovenmuehle, R., Reckless, J. B., & Newman, G. (1970). Depressive reactions in the elderly. In E. Palmore (Ed.), Normal aging: Reports from the Duke longitudinal study, 1955–1969 (pp. 90–98 ). Durham, NC: Duke University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrier, I. N., Pascuel, J., Charlton, B. G., Wright, C., Leake, A., Griffeth, H. W., Fairbairn, A. F., & Edwardson, J. A. (1988). Cortisol, ACTH, & dexamethasone concentrations in a psychogeriatric population. Biological Psychiatry, 23, 252–260.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fraser, R. M., & Glass, I. B. (1980). Unilateral and bilateral ECT in elderly patients: A comparative study. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 62, 13–31.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frith, C. D., Stevens, M., Johnstone, C. E., Deakin, J. F. W., Lawler, P., & Crow, T. J. (1983). Effects of ECT and depression on various aspects of memory. British Journal of Psychiatry, 142, 610–617.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gambert, S. R., & Tsitouras, P. D. (1985). Effect of age on thyroid hormone physiology and function. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 33, 360–365.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Georgotas, A., McCue, R. E., Cooper, T., Chang, I., Mir, P., & Welkowitz, J. (1987). Clinical predictors of response to antidepressants in elderly patients. Biological Psychiatry, 22, 733–740.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gershon, E. S., Hamovit, J. H., Guroff, J. J., & Nurnberger, J. L. (1987). Birth-cohort changes in manic and depressive disorders in relatives of bipolar and schizoaffective patients. Archives of General Psychiatry, 44, 314–319.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gurin, G., Veroff, J., & Felk, S. (1960). Americans view their mental health: A nationwide interview study. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurland, B. J., Dean, L., & Cross, P. (1980). The epidemiology of depression and dementia in the elderly: The use of multiple indicators of these conditions. In J. O. Cole, & J. E. Barrett, Psychopathology of the aged. New York: Raven Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinkle, P., Coffey, C. E., & Weiner, R. (1985, July). ECT seizure duration varies with age. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Geriatrics Society, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holden, C. (1985). A guarded endorsement for shock therapy (News Report). Science, 228, 1510–1511.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobsen, F. M., Wehr, T. A., Sack, D. A., James, S. P., & Rosenthal, N. E. (1987). Seasonal affective disorder: A review of the syndrome and its public health implications. American Journal of Public Health, 77, 57–60.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jenike, M. A., & Albert, M. S. (1984). The dexamethasone suppression test in patients with presenile and senile dementia of the Alzheimer’s type. Journal of American Geriatrics Society, 32, 441–444.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaufmann, M. W., Cassem, N. H., Murray, G. B., & Jenike, M. (1984). Use of psychostimulants in medically ill patients with neurological disease and major depression. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 29, 46–49.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klerman, G. L., Lavori, P. W., Rice, J., Reich, J., Endicott, J., &reason, N. C., Keller, M. D., & Hirshfield, R. M. A. (1985). Birth-cohort trends in rates of major depressive disorder among relatives of patients with affective disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 42, 689–693.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, V., Smith, R. C., Reed, K., & Leelavath, D. E. (1987). Plasma levels and effects of nortriptyline in geriatric depressed patients. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 75, 20–28.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kupfer, D. J., Reynolds, C. F., Ulrich, R. F., Shaw, D. H., & Coble, P. A. (1982). EEG, sleep, depression, & aging. Neurobiology of Aging, 3, 351–360.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kupfer, D. J., & Thase, M. E. (1983). The use of the sleep laboratory in the diagnosis of affective disorders. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 6, 3–25.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kushnir, S. L. (1986). Lithium-antidepressant combinations in the treatment of depressed, physically ill geriatric patients. American Journal of Psychiatry, 143, 378–379.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loosen, P. T., & Prange, A. J. (1982). Serum thyrotropin response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in psychiatric patients: A review. American Journal of Psychiatry, 139, 405–416.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meyers, B. S., & Greenberg, R. (1986). Late-life delusional depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 11, 133–137.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Myers, D. W. A. (1984). Dynamic therapy of the older patient. New York: Jason Aronson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers, J. K., Weissman, M. M., Tischler, G. L., Holzer, C. E., Leaf, A. J., Orvaschel, H., Anthony, J. C., Boyd, J. H., Burke, J. D., Kramer, M., & Stoltzman, R. (1984). Six-month prevalence of psychiatric disorders in three communities: 1980 to 1982. Archives of General Psychiatry, 41, 959–967.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nemeroff, C. B., Knight, D. L., Krishnan, K. R. R., Slotkin, T. A., Bissette, G., Melville, M. L., & Blazer, D. G. (in press). Marked reduction in the number of platelet 3H-imipramine binding sites in geriatric depression. Archives of General Psychiatry.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nemeroff, C. B., Widerlov, E., Bissette, G., Walleus, H., Karlsson, I., Eklund, K., Kitts, C. D., Loosen, P. T., & Vale, W. (1984). Elevated concentrations of CSF corticotropin-releasing factor-like immunoreactivity in depressed patients. Science, 226, 1342–1344.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parmelee, P. A., Katz, I. R., & Lawton, M. P. (1989). Depression among institutionalized aged: Assessment and prevalence estimation. Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 44, M22–29.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Price, L. H., Charney, D. S., & Heninger, G. R. (1985). Efficacy of lithiumtranylcypromine treatment in refractory depression. American Journal of Psychiatry, 142, 619–623.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C. F., Kupfer, D. J., Houck, P. R., Hoch, C. C., Stack, J. A., Berman, S. R., & Zimmer, B. (1988). Reliable discrimination of elderly depressed and demented patients by electroencephalographic sleep data. Archives of General Psychiatry, 45, 258–264.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C. F., Perel, J. M., Kupfer, D. J., Zimmer, B., Stack, J. A., & Hoch, C. C. (1987). Open-trial response to antidepressant treatment in elderly patients with mixed depression and cognitive impairment. Psychiatry Research, 21, 111–122.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robins, L. N., Heizer, J. E., Weissman, M. M., Orvaschel, H., Gruenberg, E., Burke, J. D., & Regier, D. A. (1984). Lifetime prevalence of specific psychiatric disorders in three sites. Archives of General Psychiatry, 41, 949–958.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodin, J. (1986). Aging and health: Effects of the sense of control. Science, 223, 1271–1276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schildkraut, J. J. (1965). The catecholamine hypothesis of affective disorders: A review of supporting evidence. American Journal of Psychiatry, 122, 509–522.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, L. S., Cooper, T. B., Staples, F. R., & Sloane, R. B. (1987). Prediction of individual dosage of nortriptyline in depressed elderly outpatients. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 7, 311–314.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, L. S., Severson, J. A., Pollock, V., Tarika, J., Albata, A. A., & Haskett, R. F. (1986). Platelet monoamine oxidase activity in elderly depressed outpatients. Biological Psychiatry, 21, 1360–1364.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, L. S., Severson, J. A., & Sloane, R. B. (1985). Platelet 3H-imipramine binding in depressed elderly patients. Biological Psychiatry, 20, 1234–1237.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, L. S., Sloane, R. B., Staples, F. R., & Bender, M. (1986). Pretreatment orthostatic hypertension as a predictor of response to nortriptyline in geriatric depression. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 6, 172–176.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schukit, M. (1987). Trait (and state) markers of a predisposition to psychopathology. In R. Michaels & J. O. Cavenar (Eds.), Psychiatry (vol. 3, chapter 53 ). Philadelphia: Lippincott.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shulman, K. I., MacKenzie, S., & Hardy, B. (1987). The clinical use of lithium carbonate in old age: A review. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 11, 159–164.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Snaith, R. P. (1987). The concepts of mild depression. British Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 387–393.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spitzer, R. L., Endicott, J., & Robins, E. (1978). Research diagnostic criteria. Archives of General Psychiatry, 35, 773–782.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steuer, J. L., Mintz, J., Hammen, C. L., Hill, M. A., Jarvik, L. F., McCarley, J., Motoike, P., & Roser, R. (1984). Cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic group psychotherapy in treatment of geriatric depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 52, 180–189.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, L. W., Gallagher, D. L., & Breckenridge, J. S. (1987). Comparative effectiveness of psychotherapies for depressed elders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 385–390.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weissman, M. M., & Myers, J. K. (1978). Affective disorders in a US urban community: The use of research diagnostic criteria in an epidemiological survey. Archives of General Psychiatry, 35, 1304–1311.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wehr, T. A., Sack, D. A., Rosenthal, N. E., & Cowdry, R. W. (1988). Rapid cycling affective disorder: Contributing factors and treatment responses in 51 patients. American Journal of Psychiatry, 145, 179–184.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Duke University Medical Center, USA

    Dan Blazer

Authors
  1. Dan Blazer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Philadelphia Geriatric Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    M. Powell Lawton Ph.D.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1990 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Blazer, D. (1990). Depression in Late Life: An Update. In: Lawton, M.P. (eds) Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-40455-3_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-40455-3_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-39398-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-40455-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation