Abstract
This study investigated the psychological characteristics and clinical features of 55 patients with geriatric depression, and evaluated the efficacy and safety of escitalopram in the treatment of geriatric depression, in a randomized controlled trial. Fifty-five patients with geriatric depression were randomly assigned to receive 8 weeks of escitalopram 10 mg, daily, orally (n = 29) or placebo (n = 26). At baseline, these patients had significantly higher neuroticism and psychoticism scores on the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire - Adult scale than Chinese population norms. General Severity Index scores and the mean values of the nine subscales of the Symptom Checklist-90- Revised scale were also significantly higher in these patients than in Chinese population norms. The response rate to escitalopram after 8 weeks' treatment was 74.1% (20/27 patients). Adverse reactions included nausea, dry mouth and dizziness. In conclusion, depressed geriatric patients were found to have abnormal personality traits, and escitalopram was efficacious and had a good safety profile in the treatment of geriatric depression.