Late-life depression refers to depression occurring in older adults and has diverse presentations, including as a recurrence of early-onset depression, a new diagnosis of late-onset depression, and a mood disorder resulting from a separate medical condition, substance use, or medication regimen. Research regarding late-life depression often focuses on late-onset depression, which is defined as a major depressive episode occurring for the first time in an older person (various sources define this threshold differently, typically within the range of 60–65 years old).
Late-life depression is often underdiagnosed, which is due to numerous reasons, including that depressed mood is commonly not as prominent as other somatic and psychotic symptoms such as loss of appetite, disruptions in sleep, lack of energy or anergia, fatigue, and loss of interest and enjoyment in normal life activities. Concurrent medical problems and lower functional expectations of elderly patients also often obscure the degree of impairment caused by late-life depression. Elderly persons sometimes dismiss less severe depression as an acceptable response to life stress or a normal part of aging. Additional reasons for the difficulty in diagnosis include: medical illnesses and medication side effects that present similarly to depression, difficulty communicating with providers, lack of time in an appointment, and beliefs about mental illness and treatment from the patient, friends, family members, and society. Even when diagnosed, late-life depression is frequently undertreated as well.
Primary care is most often where diagnosis and treatment of late-life depression occurs. Notably, the DSM-5 does not specifically define diagnostic criteria for late-life depression and concludes that the characteristics of major depressive disorder do not vary by age, although research suggests that late life depression can present differently, as described above. Broadly speaking, however, diagnosis is made in the same way as other age groups, using DSM-5 criteria for major depressive disorder.
The American Psychological Association and other clinical recommendations also recognize the spectrum of depressive symptoms that extend beyond the formal criteria for major depressive disorder, including subthreshold/minor depression and dysthymic disorder; these diagnoses that fall under the umbrella of late-life depression can also present with debilitating and disruptive symptoms. Treatments for late-life depression include medicine and psychotherapy, along with lifestyle changes such as exercise, bright light therapy, and family support. In patients who do not respond to initial treatments, neurostimulation techniques such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be used. ECT has demonstrated effectiveness in treating the elderly.
Symptoms and diagnosis Diagnosis of depression in late life is made using the same criteria for Major Depressive Disorder found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)
To meet criteria for a major depressive episode, a patient must have five of the nine symptoms listed below nearly every day for at least two weeks and must have at least either a depressed mood or anhedonia. The symptoms they are facing must also harm their ability to function in daily life and must not be better explained by a medical illness or a substance. To further meet criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, the depressive episode must not be attributable to another psychiatric disorder such as psychosis or a bipolar disorder.
Depressed or sad mood Anhedonia (loss of interest in pleasurable activities) Sleep disturbance (increased or decreased sleep) Appetite disturbance (increased or decreased appetite) typically with weight change Energy disturbance (increased or decreased energy/activity level), usually fatigue Poor memory or concentration Feelings of guilt or worthlessness Psychomotor retardation or agitation (a change in mental and physical speed perceived by other people) Thoughts of wishing they were dead; suicidal ideation or suicide attempts
Causes and risk factors The exact changes in brain chemistry and function that cause either late-life or earlier-onset depression are unknown. Certain theories claim that late-life depression may result from dopamine and norepinephrine misregulation. Additionally, pituitary and adrenal imbalances accompany typical cases of late-life depression. The exact changes in brain chemistry and function that cause either late-life or earlier onset depression are unclear. It is known, however, that brain changes can be triggered by the stresses of certain life events such as illness, childbirth, death of a loved one, life transitions (such as retirement), interpersonal conflicts, or social isolation. Risk factors for depression in older persons include a history of depression, social isolation, lower socioeconomic status, uncontrolled pain, co-morbid chronic medical illness, insomnia, female sex, being single or divorced, cognitive or functional impairment, brain disease, alcohol use disorder, use of certain medications, stressful life events, and specific cardiovascular complications. These complications most notably include hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking tendencies, and hypercholesterolemia.
Research suggests that individuals with late life depression are more likely to develop Alzheimer's Disease, vascular dementia, and all-cause dementia. Dementia, however, can present early in its disease course with depressive symptoms, meaning that this association could actually be reflecting that dementia causes late life depression. Studies that have directly tried to determine whether depression is an independent risk factor for dementia have led to inconclusive results. Guidelines exist to help clinicians distinguish dementia versus a primary psychiatric disorder as the cause of a late-life depression diagnosis.
Treatments Treatment is effective in about 80% of identified cases, when treatment is provided. Effective management requires a biopsychosocial approach, combining pharmacotherapy, art therapy, and psychotherapy. Therapy generally results in improved quality of life, enhanced functional capacity, possible improvement in medical health status, increased longevity, and lower health care costs. Improvement should be evident as early as two weeks after the start of therapy, but full therapeutic effects may require several months of treatment. Therapy for older patients should be continued for longer periods than are typically used in younger patients.
Psychotherapy Psychologic therapies are recommended for elderly patients with depression because of this group's vulnerability to adverse effects and high rates of medical problems and medication use. Psychotherapeutic approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy, supportive psychotherapy, problem-solving therapy, and interpersonal therapy. Life review therapy is another type of therapy with evidence supporting its usefulness in older adults with moderate depression. The potential benefit of psychotherapy is not diminished by increasing age. Older adults often have better treatment compliance, lower dropout rates, and more positive responses to psychotherapy than younger patients. While therapy can be beneficial, it is not always provided due to factors such as lack of trained therapists or lack of coverage by health insurance.
Art therapy Art therapy can be suggested to those with depression, Alzheimer's, dementia, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Up to 27% of older adults have been diagnosed with depression in the U.S. Thus art therapy and its several uses, whether physical(dancing), auditory (music), or visual (painting), can be used differently to additionally help those on top of mental health issues but cognitive, physical, and behavioral/emotional disabilities as well. Art therapy has been seen to help those in their late life, engage, and support healthy habits. Specifically, those with depression have been seen to relax, hit physical and emotional distress, and overall increase well-being over time, the longer the participation. Patients are able to express themselves in ways where it may be hard to communicate.
It has also been found that patients do not even need to partake in the use of art, as "studies have found that a landscape picture in a hospital room had reduced need for narcotic pain killers and less time in recovery at the hospital." The use of art as a form of therapy helps patients who are engaged with it physically or visually. Those within their late life, diagnosed with depression can participate regardless of age, gender, or physical/mental disability.
Pharmacotherapy Pharmacotherapy for acute episodes of depression usually is effective and free of complications. Antidepressant medications are often the first treatment choice for adults with moderate or severe depression, sometimes along with psychotherapy. The most promising therapeutic effect is achieved when the treatment continues for at least six weeks. Underuse or misuse of antidepressants and prescribing inadequate dosages are the most common mistakes physicians make when treating elderly patients for depression. Only 10% to 40% of depressed elderly patients are given medication.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, commonly referred to as SSRIs, are considered first line pharmacotherapy for depression in late life as they are more tolerable and safer than other antidepressants. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are considered second-line but also can be useful for patients with chronic pain. Atypical antidepressants such as bupropion and mirtazapine have not been studied extensively in older adults but appear to offer some benefit. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) similarly have been shown to offer some benefit, but have not been studied extensively MAOIs must be used with caution to prevent side effects such as serotonin syndrome and adrenergic crisis.
Tricyclic antidepressants are no longer the first line therapy for depression, but can still benefit patients who do not respond to initial therapies. TCAs have also demonstrated a unique ability to prevent re-occurrence of depression following electroconvulsive therapy. TCAs are typically not used initially due to their side effects and risk from overdose compared to SSRIs. A TCA overdose can be fatal at a much lower dose than SSRIs.
Antidepressants, in general, may also work by playing a neuroprotective role in how they relieve anxiety and depression. It's thought that antidepressants may increase the effects of brain receptors that help nerve cells keep sensitivity to glutamate which is an organic compound of a nonessential amino acid. This increased support of nerve cells lowers glutamate sensitivity, providing protection against the glutamate overwhelming and exciting key brain areas related to depression. Although antidepressants may not cure depression, they can lead to remission, which is the disappearance or nearly complete reduction of depression symptoms.
Continuation and maintenance treatments for depression in older people
A 2016 Cochrane review provided limited evidence that continuing antidepressant medication for one year seems to reduce the risk of depression recurrence with no additional harm. However, a robust recommendation can not be drawn about psychological treatments or combination treatments in preventing recurrence.
Neurostimulation