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Treatment, outcome and predictors of response in elderly depressed in-patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

T. J. Heeren ,
P. Derksen ,
B. F. V. Heycop Ten Ham  and
P. P. J. Van Gent
T. J. Heeren*
Affiliation:
University Hospital of Utrecht, The Netherlands
P. Derksen
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatric Psychiatry of Zon en Schild, Amersfoort
B. F. V. Heycop Ten Ham
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatric Psychiatry of Bloemendaal, The Hague, Netherlands
P. P. J. Van Gent
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatric Psychiatry of Bloemendaal, The Hague, Netherlands
*
Professor T.J. Heeren, University Hospital of Utrecht, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry of the HC Rümke Group, Oude Arnhemseweg 260, 3705 BK Zeist. The Netherlands
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Abstract

Background

Full recovery rates in naturalistic studies of the treatment of elderly depressives are invariably lower than in clinical trials. This may be the result of inadequate treatment due to the lack of clear treatment strategy recommendations for the elderly.

Method

This is a naturalistic prospective study of depressed elderly in-patients in three Dutch psychiatric hospitals. Patients were included when they suffered from any mood disorder according to DSM - III - R criteria. Severity of the depression was measured on the Montgomery -Asberg Rating Scale.

Results

Antidepressants were prescribed to more than 90% of the patients. More than half of them received only one treatment. The dose of the antidepressants was less than the recommended dose for adults in 55% of cases. Full recovery from the depressive episode was achieved in less than half of the patients (33–45%).

Conclusions

In the present study a relatively poor outcome of the antidepressant treatment of elderly depressives has been found. A combination of low treatment expectations and fear of vigorous treatment seems to have been important.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 170 , Issue 5 , May 1997 , pp. 436 - 440
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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