Pride and prejudice in the treatment of depression and anxiety in acutely ill older adults

It is a truth universally acknowledged1 regarding geriatric mental health, that while depression and anxiety disorders are uncommon in healthy elders,2,3 they frequently affect acutely ill older adults – especially those with functional impairment.4 Simning et al drive this point home in this issue of AJGP, observing a high burden of depression and anxiety in settings of medically ill, functionally impaired older adults. They report that the prevalence of clinically significant depressive and an xiety symptoms are 39% and 24%, respectively, in older adults who had received rehabilitation services in inpatient rehabilitation facilities and skilled nursing rehabilitation facilities in the previous year.
Source: The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Tags: Invited Perspective Source Type: research