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Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1024/1011-6877.17.4.215

Zusammenfassung: Depressive Störungen sind neben den Hirnleistungsstörungen die häufigsten psychischen Störungen im höheren Lebensalter. Dennoch ist die Qualität der Versorgung niedrig; sie lässt vor allem in der Erkennung und wirksamen Behandlung zu wünschen übrig. Auch im Alter ist das biopsychosoziale Modell zur Erklärung des Zustandekommens der Störungen am besten geeignet. Zu den Symptombesonderheiten depressiver Syndrome im Alter zählen insbesondere die kognitiven Einbußen, die dysexekutiven Beeinträchtigungen und die subdiagnostischen Symptome; zudem sind depressive Störungen im Alter eng verknüpft mit Erkrankungen des kardio- und zerebrovaskulären Systems. In der primärärztlichen Versorgung, der zutreffenden Erkennung affektiver Symptome bei älteren Menschen und in der adäquaten pharmakologischen und psychosozialen Therapie verpflichten diese Symptombesonderheiten den behandelnden Arzt und Facharzt zu individuellen Lösungsstrategien.


Depressive Disorders in the Elderly: Special Symptoms and Somatic Illness

Abstract: Together with cognitive syndromes depressive disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders in the elderly. The quality of medical care is, however, low; it is especially crucial concerning early detection and effective treatment. As in earlier years, the biopsychosocial concept is the most adequate pathogenetic model for depressive disorders in later life. Among the most prominent special symptoms of depressive disorders in the elderly are cognitive symptoms, executive dysfunctions and subthreshold symptoms; in addition, depressive symptoms are closely related to diseases of the cardio- and cerebrovascular system. Within the primary medical care setting, the valid detection of these disorders and their effective pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment put the treating practitioner under the obligation to tailor individual management strategies.

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