Depression is not a monolithic disorder. Rather, it presents in a variety of syndromes that may vary in severity, length, and association of depression with other symptoms. A number of ongoing controversies attend identification and differential diagnosis of depression in late life. This section considers three such issues: common clinical syndromes and diagnoses, major versus minor depressive syndromes, and the question of whether late-life depression is qualitatively different from depressive syndromes at younger ages. (more…)

It is now almost axiomatic that late-life depression is under detected, under diagnosed, and under treated. Although this basic fact has not changed, there has been tremendous progress over the past 10 years in ensuring that older adults with depressive disorders are in fact appropriately assessed, triaged, and provided adequate treatment for their symptoms. (more…)