[Depression and benzodiazepine dependence in the elderly. On the complexity of psychiatric manifestations and psychiatric treatment].

The example of a 70 year old female patient with endogenous depression and benzodiazepine dependency at the same time shows the problems created by the attempt to attribute the clinical picture to only one singular cause. As in the beginning we were not aware of her benzodiazepine dependency, she underwent withdrawal, so that the clinical picture became very complex and lengthy; it should be considered that long-term benzodiazepine use as well as withdrawal might have contributed to genesis, at least to manifestation of the depressive disorder. Apart from the self-contained depressive disorder and benzodiazepine dependency, obviously biographic-psychodynamic and family-dynamic factors have been important in formation, but as well in remittence of the complex clinical picture. An impressive urinary retention without detectable organic origin which persisted for several weeks is remarkable.