The best is yet to be: preventing, detecting, and treating depression in older women.

Abstract

To live fully for as long as life lasts is our goal for aging and the challenge we face as we age ourselves and help our patients age. Although we cannot prevent depression, we have information about the correlates of depression or its absence. There are nonmedical interventions that significantly lessen depressive symptoms. We have data on successful aging in the community that suggest some preventative measures. The article reviews information about the risk factors for depression in older women, the prevalence of depression in older women, and the concept of minor or subsyndromal depression. Finally, current concepts of treatment and data on longitudinal outcomes are presented.