In last week’s eWeekly article, we discussed the features to be aware of in evaluations of depression in older patients, including the influence of depression and/or cognitive impairment in increasing the risk of the other condition. This eWeekly addresses treatment of depression in older patients and how it might differ from treatment in younger adults. […]
Category Archives: Depression
Prescribing Psychotropic Medications for Women
Women are almost twice as likely to be prescribed psychotropic medication as men. Because women are the primary consumers of psychotropic medications, it is important to pay attention to gender differences in the pharmacology of these medications. Other e-weekly topics have addressed issues related to pregnancy, menopause, and birth control with mental health, so this […]
Treating Co-Morbid Depression and Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary Artery Disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is one of the main contributors to the global burden of disease. One in four patients with coronary artery disease also suffer from depression, which adds to the risk of recurrent myocardial infarction and death. Guidelines exist to urge primary care […]
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Approximately 75% of women experience premenstrual changes – increased irritability, tension, depressed mood, breast tenderness and bloating – commonly referred to as premenstrual syndrome (PMS). About 5-10% of women experience far more substantial premenstrual mood symptoms known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMDD symptoms includes moderate to severe depressed mood, irritability, mood lability, anxiety, anger, […]
Is it Menopause or Depression?
Females in their 40s and 50s often present to their primary care providers with new-onset depressive symptoms. It can be difficult to assess if the symptoms are part of menopause/perimenopause or if they represent a new onset depressive disorder. One complicating factor is that menopause can independently increase the risk of onset of a depressive […]
Screening For Depression
Depression is the most common mood disorder in the general population. In 2014, an estimated 15.7 million adults aged 18 or older in the U.S. had at least one major depressive episode in the past year. This number represented 6.7% of all U.S. adults. In 2014, an estimated 11.4% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 […]
Is There a Link Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Depression?
There has been a lot of discussion recently in the scientific world and the lay press about the prevalence and consequences of vitamin D deficiency. As part of that discussion, there has been a suggestion that vitamin D deficiency could contribute to depression and that vitamin D supplementation could be a viable treatment option for […]