Abstract
Depression is a highly prevalent concomitant of dementia. Concurrent depression (DD) can meet full criteria for a disorder or take the form of a depressive syndrome. Although phenomenologic overlap can confound diagnosis, careful assessment demonstrates that a true depressive component is present in a substantial percentage of dementia cases. DD has been associated with excess disability, increased caregiver burden, and greater mortality. Efficacy studies have demonstrated high placebo response rates, indicating transience of many depressive symptoms, and adverse cognitive effects of older antidepressants. Studies demonstrating that new antidepressants can be efficacious and improve cognitive functioning are reviewed.
MeSH terms
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / therapeutic use
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Benzamides / therapeutic use
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Citalopram / therapeutic use
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Clomipramine / therapeutic use
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Cognition Disorders / epidemiology*
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Comorbidity
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Dementia / diagnosis
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Dementia / drug therapy*
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Dementia / epidemiology*
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Depression / diagnosis
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Depression / drug therapy*
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Depression / epidemiology*
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Female
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Fluoxetine / therapeutic use
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Fluvoxamine / therapeutic use
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Humans
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Imipramine / therapeutic use
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Moclobemide
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Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Neuropsychological Tests
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Nortriptyline / therapeutic use
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Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Sertraline / therapeutic use
Substances
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Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
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Benzamides
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Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
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Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
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Fluoxetine
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Citalopram
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Nortriptyline
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Clomipramine
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Fluvoxamine
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Imipramine
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Moclobemide
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Sertraline