INTERVENTION CLINICAL TRIAL FOR GERIATRIC DEPRESSION RITALIN AUGMENTATION OF

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Elderly patients with major depression are at high risk for recurrence, increased mortality, and chronic disability (Reynolds et al, 1999). The existing evidence indicates that an antidepressant response may be less favorable in patients who are at least 70 y.o. than in younger patients (Reynolds et al, 1999). The main features that set elderly depressed apart from the younger depressed individuals include the presence of co-existing chronic medical conditions, particularly cardio- and cerebrovascular (Lebowitz et al, 1997), which may contribute to an altered disease course and treatment response. Because of co-existing medical conditions and increased frailty, patients age 70 and older may benefit from different therapeutic techniques to enhance and accelerate their treatment response which will then decrease their suffering, improve their quality of life, and decrease the burden on their families and society.

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