Pharmacologic treatment of depression in late life

 

Table 1: Symptoms of major depression*
  1. Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day
  2. Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day
  3. Significant weight loss or gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day
  4. Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
  5. Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day
  6. Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
  7. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly everyday
  8. Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day
  9. Recurrent thoughts of death, or suicidal ideation or attempt

*Major depression is defined as the presence of symptom 1 or 2, or both, plus enough of symptoms 3-9 to make a total of 5 or more symptoms with a minimum duration of 2 weeks.

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| CMAJ October 15, 1997 (vol 157, no 8) / JAMC le 15 octobre 1997 (vol 157, no 8) |

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