Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of degenerative dementia, associating to cognitive and non-cognitive symptoms a progressive decline of social functioning. Depression in AD often has psychotic features, with major anxiety and agitation, dysphoria, anhedonia and important social dysfunction.

Sample of 50 patients, with at least one hospitalization from January 1st, 2007 to June 30th, 2007. Patients’ ages were between 55 and 65 years. There were 28 women and 28 male patients. During study period, 27 patients (15 women and 12 male) which presented depressive symptoms received tianeptine – 37.5 mg/day associated to specific treatment of dementia (cholinesterase inhibitors); 8 patients also received atypical antipsychotics during hospitalizations. All patients were assessed using MMSE scale (day 1, 14, 28, month 2, 3 and 6). Hamilton Scale for Depression (HAM-D) was applied to patients who presented depressive symptoms, at same intervals.

A clear relationship between the increase of MMSE and the improvement of HAM-D scores was highlighted in depressive patients with AD, especially after 3 months of associated therapy. Hospitalization periods were briefer in patients who received tianeptine and most of them did not present psychotic features.

Antidepressants seem to improve both depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment in patients with AD. Treatment of depression associated to AD is likely to have a higher importance that seemed. Without denying the role of specific treatment for dementia, we consider that the improvement of depression in AD patients has beneficent effects on cognitive impairment and behavior.