Elderly Depressives : Use of Medicines with a Potenital to Cause Depression

The prevalence of use of medicines with a known potential to cause depression among 40 elderly depressives and 20 matched controls was studied. Results showed that the prevalence was not significantly different between the two groups. Within the patient group, the prevalence was independent of the variables of sex, nature and severity of depression, and history of previous episodes of affective illness. While the results indicate that depressive illnesses secondary to the use of medicines are not common, the possibility of a medicine rarely inducing depression cannot be ruled out.