Depression in late life. Special considerations in treatment.

In late life, depression and dysthymia are prevalent, serious, but treatable disorders. Unfortunately, treatment often is delayed or withheld because of difficulties in recognizing and diagnosing the condition. Treatment may also be withheld when the depression is incorrectly perceived as hopeless or its treatment as futile. Optimal treatment includes educating the patient and family about depression and its treatment, selecting the appropriate antidepressant regimen, and providing psychosocial intervention to instill hope, improve compliance, and minimize disability. Treatment must be geared toward not only helping patients get well but helping them keep well.