Late-life depression and the family physician
Late-life depression (LLD) is a common disorder seen in clinical practice. Depression in this population group is often left undetected and untreated. The majority of elderly individuals who seek help present to the primary health care setting. The family physician is ideally placed to screen for sy...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2022-06-01
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| Series: | South African Family Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5534 |
| _version_ | 1811227084479004672 |
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| author | Sanushka Moodley Alexandra Maisto |
| author_facet | Sanushka Moodley Alexandra Maisto |
| author_sort | Sanushka Moodley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Late-life depression (LLD) is a common disorder seen in clinical practice. Depression in this population group is often left undetected and untreated. The majority of elderly individuals who seek help present to the primary health care setting. The family physician is ideally placed to screen for symptoms of LLD, given that they often have longitudinal knowledge of the patient’s history, premorbid personality, functioning and overall health status. An understanding of risk factors, differential diagnoses, appropriate opportunistic screening tools and decision-making around management plans can assist the family physician in the early detection and treatment of these patients. In doing so, this may lead to a decrease in mortality and morbidity and enhance the patient’s quality of life. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T09:36:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6bdcba779ca9493ca0c1944a266dbe93 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2078-6190 2078-6204 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T09:36:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-6bdcba779ca9493ca0c1944a266dbe932022-12-22T03:38:13ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042022-06-01641e1e410.4102/safp.v64i1.55344239Late-life depression and the family physicianSanushka Moodley0Alexandra Maisto1Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgLate-life depression (LLD) is a common disorder seen in clinical practice. Depression in this population group is often left undetected and untreated. The majority of elderly individuals who seek help present to the primary health care setting. The family physician is ideally placed to screen for symptoms of LLD, given that they often have longitudinal knowledge of the patient’s history, premorbid personality, functioning and overall health status. An understanding of risk factors, differential diagnoses, appropriate opportunistic screening tools and decision-making around management plans can assist the family physician in the early detection and treatment of these patients. In doing so, this may lead to a decrease in mortality and morbidity and enhance the patient’s quality of life.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5534late lifedepressionoldergeriatric mental healthmajor depressive disorderantidepressantscognitive impairmentdementia |
| spellingShingle | Sanushka Moodley Alexandra Maisto Late-life depression and the family physician South African Family Practice late life depression older geriatric mental health major depressive disorder antidepressants cognitive impairment dementia |
| title | Late-life depression and the family physician |
| title_full | Late-life depression and the family physician |
| title_fullStr | Late-life depression and the family physician |
| title_full_unstemmed | Late-life depression and the family physician |
| title_short | Late-life depression and the family physician |
| title_sort | late life depression and the family physician |
| topic | late life depression older geriatric mental health major depressive disorder antidepressants cognitive impairment dementia |
| url | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5534 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sanushkamoodley latelifedepressionandthefamilyphysician AT alexandramaisto latelifedepressionandthefamilyphysician |