Abstract
The prevalence of psychological depression in elderly patients in medical/rehabilitation/nursing care settings is reviewed, with general levels of 20% to 35% and more specific levels up to 70% being reported for these populations. Depression is seen as readily identifiable in these patients, though it is probably a different entity than that seen in modal onset of depression in younger psychiatric populations. In elderly non psychiatric patients, depression is more likely to be situationally/relationship based, being related to medical and behavioral difficulties. Depression is seen as having a negative impact on patient treatment, though it does not clearly have an impact on longevity in healthy, community-living older citizens. Aggressive treatment of depression in elderly patients is supported.
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