Treatments for Major Depression Medication Let’s move to a discussion of medication for depression in the senior population. Antidepressant medication first became available in the 1950s with the introduction of the tricyclic imipramine. Since then, numerous agents have become available in the United States. A detailed discussion of the mechanism of action of these drugs is well beyond the scope of this blog, but briefly, antidepressants act in complex ways on one or more of

When making the decision to start a website in my own name, I thought about what my goals, my expectations would be for the new endeavor.  As physicians, we are busy enough.  How could I reach more people?  What would I say?  What do current and prospective patients want to hear? One of patients’ biggest complaints about their interactions with their physicians is the lack of time to ask questions, to be educated about their disease and its treatment. I am resolved to make th

Most patients have some degree of interest in knowing a little more about their physician than where he went to school.  Many physicians are of the opinion that any personal information shared begins to blur the boundaries between patient and provider.   I have found that I can better build a therapeutic alliance when patients have some sense of who I am, what I like. I’m a Kansas City native, a University of Kansas graduate for college, medical school, and residency.  I’m ma

Depression in the Elderly Major depression is common in the population at all stages of life. Between 6-8% of adults will develop an episode of depression in a given year. But wait!- let’s be sure we are clear about what depression is. Depression is not an isolated day of feeling blue, sad, or ‘bummed out.’ Depression is a clinical illness that has well defined symptoms, which are present every (or nearly every) day for a period of at least two weeks. Beyond sadness, peopl