The Two-Way Relationship Between Medical Illness and Late-Life Depression

This article reviews some common medical conditions and the interaction between those illnesses and depression in the geriatric population. The authors aim to help clarify the 2-way interaction between depression and these medical conditions, especially in older individuals, and impart some important diagnostic and treatment considerations to the practicing physician. The presence of multiple conditions further complicates treatment, as does associated medication use, substance abuse problems (often underappreciated in the elderly), age-related changes in sleep architecture, and an array of other psychosocial and environmental factors that can contribute to the development of depression.