DISEASE
 ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
 MULTI-INFARCT DEMENTIA
 MAJOR DEPRESSION
 DELIRIUM
ONSET
 SLOW, INSIDIOUS
  • STEPWISE DECLINE,
  • EACH DECLINE IS TEMPORALLY
    RELATED TO A SMALL INFARCT
 ABRUPT
  • ACUTE
  • SELDOM EXCEEDS ONE
    MONTH
DX
 DIAGNOSIS OF EXCLUSION
PREVALENT IN 30% OF PEOPLE OVER 80
   MEETS DSM-V CRITERIA
  
CLINICAL FEATURES
  • 15% PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH
    ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE REALLY HAVE
    DEPRESSION (MISDIAGNOSIS).
  • MANY MORE HAVE DEPRESSION HAS A
    CLINICAL FEATURE OF THE DISEASE
    ITSELF.
   PTS WITH DEPRESSION C/O OF COGNITIVE
DEFICITS
  • SYMPTOMS FLUCTUATE
    UNPREDICTABLE DURING
    COURSE OF A DAY
  • MOST COMMON IN PEOPLE
    OLDER THAN 65 Y
  MOST COMMON CAUSE OF DEMENTIA IN THE
ELDERLY
 NOT REVERSIBLE
  • RESPONDS TO
    PHARMACOTHERAPY AND
    PSYCHOTHERAPY
  • NORTRIPTYLINE (TCA) OF CHOICE
    IN ELDERLY
  • INDUCED BY CHOLINERGIC
    AGENTS IN ELDERLY
  • INFECTIONS ARE A
    COMMON CAUSE IN THE
    ELDERLY
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