노인우울증의 진단과 치료

Abstract

The diagnosis and treatment of elderly depression has gained growing importance because of its major impact on the patients's wellbeing, personal, social, and familial achievements. Depressive disorders are characterized by mood-affect, thought-cognition, psychomotor activity and somatic manifestations. Especially geriatric depression is more represented by thought-cognition and somatic manifestations. And it is also associated with comorbid mental or physical conditions that may lead to a decrease in life expectancy. Diagnosis of geriatric depression consists of history taking, laboratory, neurocognitive test, brain imaging technique and genetic study. As for its treatment, physical treatment such as pharmacological treatments, electroconvulsive therapy, and phototherapy have been emphasized but should also include psychosocial intervention such as supportive, family and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy.