Combinatorial pharmacogenomic testing improves outcomes for older adults with depression

Geriatric depression, which affects approximately 5% of older adults (age ≥65 years) in the United States (1, 2), places substantial burdens on function, quality of life, and healthcare resources. In 2017, 2.2% of U.S. men and 3.5% of women age 65 years or older had experienced a major depressive episode in the past year, according to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (3). Although major depressive disorder (MDD) episodes are less prevalent in older adults than in younger age groups (1), up to 15% of community-dwelling people in this age category experience clinically significant depressive symptoms, with higher rates of MDD and de pressive symptomatology among those in medical settings (1).

Source: The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry - May 17, 2020 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Brent P. Forester, Sagar V. Parikh, Sara Weisenbach, Olusola Ajilore, Ipsit Vahia, Anthony J. Rothschild, Michael E. Thase, Boadie W. Dunlop, Charles DeBattista, Charles R. Conway, Richard C. Shelton, Matthew Macaluso, James Li, Paul Traxler, Jennifer Log Tags: Regular Research Article Source Type: research