Depression in the Elderly - UNMC PowerPoint Presentation

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Depression in Elderly Kalpana P. Padala, MD, MS Research Geriatrician Assistant Professor Dept. of Family Medicine University of Nebraska Medical Center Email: kpadala@unmc.edu

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Disclosures None

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Goals and Objectives Identify the variation in presentation of depression in various age groups Overview of assessment of depression along with use of common rating scale Selection of antidepressants in management of depression Special considerations with antidepressant use in elderly Overview of risk factors for Suicide

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Epidemiology Men: 5-12% Women: 10-25% Prevalence 1-2% in elderly 6-10% in Primary Care setting 12-20% in Nursing home setting 11-45% in Inpatient setting >40% of outpt. Psychiatry clinic and inpt. psychiatry Peak age of onset 3rd decade Late-life depression: secondary to vascular etiology

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Patho-physiology Elevated stress levels Decreased levels or activity of nor-epinephrine and/or serotonin Decreased latency to 1st rapid eye movement sleep phase and hypoperfusion of the frontal lobes Cerebro-vascular disease Deep white matter hyperintensity

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Etiology Biological factors Social factors Psychological factors

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Biological factors Genetic High prevalence in first degree relatives High concordance with monozygotic twins Short allele of serotonin transported gene Medical Illness: Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes or stroke Vascular changes in the brain Chronic or severe pain Previous history of depression Substance abuse

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Social factors Loneliness, isolation Recent bereavement Lack of a supportive social network Decreased mobility Due to illness or loss of driving privileges

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Psychological factors Traumatic experiences Abuse Damage to body image Fear of death Frustration with memory loss Role transitions

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Common precipitants Arguments with friends/relatives Rejection or abandonment Death or major illness of loved one Loss of pet Anniversary of a (-) event Major medical illness or age-related deterioration Stressful event at work Medication Noncompliance Substance use

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Definition A syndrome complex characterized by mood disturbance plus variety of cognitive, psychological, and vegetative disturbances

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Clinical Features DSM IV-TR criteria 5/9 should be present for at least two weeks Must be a change from previous functioning Presence of decreased interest or low/depressed mood is must feature SIGECAPS

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SIG(M)ECAPS Sleep disturbance: decreased or increased Interest or pleasure*: decreased Guilt or feeling worthless Mood* : sustained low or depressed Energy loss or fatigue Concentration problems or problems with memory Appetite disturbance, weight loss or gain Psychomotor agitation or retardation Suicidal ideation, thoughts of death

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MINOR Depression Also known as subsyndromal depression subclinical depression mild depression 2 - 4 times more common than major depression Associated with: subsequent major depression greater use of health services reduced physical, social functioning loss of quality of life Responds to same treatments!

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Atypical depression Somatic complaints Hyperphagia, Hypersomnia, Hypersensitivity to rejection “Heavy” feeling in upper or lower extremities (leaden paralysis)

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Simon GE, et al. N Engl J Med. 1999;341(18):1329-1335. Depression – the physical presentation In primary care, physical symptoms are often the chief complaint in depressed patients N = 1146 Primary care patients with major depression In a New England Journal of Medicine study, 69% of diagnosed depressed patients reported unexplained physical symptoms as their chief compliant1

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Dysthymia More chronic, low intensity mood disorder By definition, symp must be present > 2 yrs consecutively It is characterized by anhedonia, low self-esteem, & low energy It may have a more psychologic than biologic etiology It tends to respond to Rx & psychotherapy equally Long-term psychotherapy is frequently able to bring about lasting change in dysthymic individuals

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Bipolar Disorder People with this type of illness change back and forth between periods of depression and periods of mania (an extreme high). Symptoms of mania may include: Less need for sleep Overconfidence Racing thoughts Reckless behavior Increased energy Mood changes are usually gradual, but can be sudden

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Season Affective Disorder Results from changes in the season. Most cases begin in the fall or winter, or when there is a decrease in sunlight Pattern of onset at the same time each year Full remissions occur at a characteristic time of year

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Pseudo-dementia A syndrome of cognitive impairment that mimics dementia but is actually depression Poor attention and concentration Symptoms resolve as the depression is treated effectively If considerable cognitive impairment remains, an underlying dementia is suspected Even “completely recovered” patients have higher rates of dementia (20% /year of f/u) This is 2.5 to 6 times higher than population risk

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Psychotic depression Abnormal thought process – psychotic thinking Frank hallucinations and delusions

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Depression in Elderly NOT a normal part of aging 2 million Americans over age 65 have depressive illness Sub-syndromal depression increases the risk of developing depression Leads to early relapse and chronicity Often co-occurs with other serious illnesses Under-diagnosed and under-treated Suicide rates in the elderly are the highest of any age group.

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Facts in Elderly Only 11 percent : in community receive adequate antidepressant treatment The direct and indirect costs – $43 billion each year Late life depression is particularly costly because of the excess disability that it causes and its deleterious interaction with physical health

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Depression in Elderly Difficult to diagnose Low/depressed mood need not be present Persistent loss of pleasure and interest in previously enjoyable activities (anhedonia) must be present Reject diagnosis of depression Masked depression or depression without sadness- mainly somatic complaints

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Depression in Elderly Symptoms of minor depression Somatic complaints: Persistent, vague, unexplained physical complaints Agitation, anxiety Memory problems, difficulty concentrating Social withdrawal A high degree of suspicion and specific inquiry is necessary for its detection and treatment

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Differential diagnosis in Elderly Differentiation from medical illness: Hyperthyroidism Parkinson’s disease Carcinoma of the pancreas Dementia Bereavement: Time limited resolves within few months 14% develop depression within 2 yrs of loss Look for functional impairment

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Depression associated with Structural Brain Disease Alzheimers disease: 20% of subjects with early AD have depression CerebroVascular disease: Vascular depression: Anhedonia, executive dysfunction and absence of guilt preoccupations Late age of onset Risk factors for vascular disease Prefrontal or subcortical white matter hyperintensities on T2 weighted MRI Non-amnestic neuropsychologic deficits in tasks req’ initiation, persistence and self monitoring

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Assessment

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Geriatric Depression Scale Choose the best answer for how you have felt over the past week: 1. Are you basically satisfied with your life? YES / NO 2. Have you dropped many of your activities and interests? YES / NO 3. Do you feel that your life is empty? YES / NO 4. Do you often get bored? YES / NO 5. Are you in good spirits most of the time? YES / NO 6. Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you? YES / NO 7. Do you feel happy most of the time? YES / NO 8. Do you often feel helpless? YES / NO 9. Do you prefer to stay home, rather than going out, doing new things? YES / NO 10. Do you feel you have more problems with memory than most? YES / NO 11. Do you think it is wonderful to be alive now? YES / NO 12. Do you feel pretty worthless the way you are now? YES / NO 13. Do you feel full of energy? YES / NO 14. Do you feel that your situation is hopeless? YES / NO 15. Do you think that most people are better off than you are? YES / NO *Underlined items constitute the four item scale

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Labs: CBC CMP TSH Dementia workup Cognitive testing EKG

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Professional treatment must for depression

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Why treat Substantially the likelihood of death from physical illnesses impairment from a medical disorder and impedes its improvement When untreated - interferes with a patient's ability to follow the necessary treatment regimen Healthcare costs of elderly people: 50% higher than those of non-depressed seniors. Lasts longer in the elderly.

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Treatment Non-medical Medical

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Non-Medical interventions Balanced diet Fluids Exercise Avoid alcohol Family support/social support Focus on positives Promote autonomy Promote creativity Alternate therapy: Pet therapy, horticulture therapy Pace appropriately Inform about depression Avoid stressors

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Medical Interventions Medications Psychotherapy Electro-convulsive therapy Vagal Nerve stimulation Combination therapy

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Medications Serotonergic SSRIs: Citalopram, Escitalopram, Sertraline, Paroxetine, Fluoxetine Noradrenergic TCAs Dopaminergic Bupropion Dual mechanism Venlafaxine, Mirtazapine, Duloxetine, SSRIs + Buproprion

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Treatment selection Serotonergic Anxious, agitated, hostile, hypochondriac Noradrenergic Avoid use in elderly Dopaminergic Psychomotor retarded, blunted, apathetic Dual mechanism Melancholic, atypical, treatment resistant

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Special considerations in elderly Start low and go slow Dose adjustment based on renal clearance: 30% reduction of mirtazapine clearance with creatinine clearance : 11-15 SSRIs are used at the same dose as adults Response time is longer in elderly >6-12 weeks Because of higher risk of relapse in elderly, continue antidepressants for > 2 years after remission of major depressive disorder

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Special considerations in elderly All antidepressants are equally efficacious SSRIs are better tolerated than TCAs Escitalopram, citalopram, sertraline, venlafaxine and mirtazapine may have fewer drug interactions SSRI related side effects seen in elderly Extrapyramidal side effects Apathy Anorexia SIADH Upper GI bleeding

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Psychotherapy Very helpful in mild to moderate depression Response time slower Relapse less frequent CBT As effective as antidepressants IPT more effective than antidepressants in treating mood suicidal ideations, and lack of interest, whereas antidepressants are more effective for appetite and sleep disturbances

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Electro-convulsive Therapy Indications: Failure of antidepressant trials Severe depression with catatonic or psychotic features High risk of suicide Poor tolerability of oral meds Response rates from 70-90% Most efficacious antidepressant Contraindication: ICP, intracranial tumors 3x/wk with avg number of treatments 8-12, may need maintenance therapy Side effects: Short term memory loss

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Vagal Nerve Stimulation Electrical pulses applied to the left vagus nerve in the neck for transmission to the brain Intermittent stimulation 30 sec on/5 min off Implanted in over 11,500 patients Battery life of 8-12years, weighs 38 gms, 10.3 mm thick Side effects: hoarse voice, pain or tingling in the throat or neck, cough, headache and ear pain, difficulty sleeping, shortness of breath, vomiting

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Vagal Nerve Stimulator (VNS)

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SUICIDE: DON’T FORGET Ask about suicidal ideation intent

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Suicide risk in elderly Very Important, Easy to miss Always ask Firearms at home Many older adults who commit suicide have visited a primary care physician very close to the time of the suicide 20 percent on the same day 40 percent within one week – of the suicide

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Suicide risk in elderly Suicides twice as common as homicides 12% of the population is elderly, they account for 20% of the 30,000 suicides/yr Older patients make 2 to 4 attempts per completed suicide, younger patients make 100 to 200 attempts per completion When they decide - they are serious

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Assessment tool for suicide risk: S- Male Sex A- Age (young/elderly) D- Depression P- Previous attempts E- ETOH R- Reality testing (Impaired) S- Social support (lack of) O- Organized plan N- No spouse S- Sickness

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Suicide Risk Paradoxically ↑ as patient begins to respond to treatment Somatic or “vegetative” symptoms (sleep, appetite, energy) are usually the first symptoms to improve “Cognitive” symptoms of depression (low self-esteem, guilt, suicidal thoughts) tend to improve more slowly

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Questions