Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to B Soldatović-Stajić.
In this article the authors present a case of a secondary depression in woman, 75 years old, without previous psychiatric anamnesis or heredity. She had post-herpetic intercostal neuralgia and developed symptoms of depression. This case is an example which points to necessity of cooperation of other medical branches with psychiatry.
INTRODUCTION: Considerable efforts have been made throughout the last 20 years to develop drugs that can replace tricyclic antidepressants as the primary treatment for depression. These efforts are well justified since tricyclic antidepressants, although therapeutically quite efficient, cause several problems, such as side effects and toxicity at therapeutic doses, causing particular problems in the elderly and in patients with congestive heart disease, and giving severe toxicity when taken in overdose. A number of compounds that are pharmacodynamically different from the tricyclics have been developed, and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are such. This group of antidepressives has been developed and widely marked as antidepressant therapy which offers safety and tolerability advantages over tricyclics. Tricyclic antidepressants have been the standard drug treatment for depressive illness, against which the efficacy of new compounds is compared in this investigation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 30 female inpatients were examined. All patients had to fulfill the inclusion criteria for moderate depressive disorders, according to International Classification of Diseases. The primary efficacy parameters in the study were the changes from baseline Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression with 19 items, total score at endpoint. Patients were evaluated weekly for efficacy and adverse events. Clinicians also rated patients on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety. In statistical analysis X and T test were used. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between two groups of patients in response to tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors show less adverse effects compared to tricyclics, so they appeared to be better tolerated. CONCLUSION: The traditional and new antidepressive drugs appeared to be equally effective in the treatment of moderate depressive disorders, but new drugs: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors show less adverse effects, compared to the traditional, tricyclic antidepressants.
INTRODUCTION: Depression is a common problem in old age, especially among those with various medical illnesses. Aging brings about numerous losses that might lead to depression: loss of health, loved ones and social roles. Some of older persons develop depression. Depression in old age is a serious illness. The suicide rate among older persons is very high. Approximately 90% of elderly people who commit suicide suffer from depression. Adequate treatment of depression in late life includes reducing and resolving depressive symptoms, preventing its relapse and reoccurrence, improving quality of life, and reducing mortality and healthcare costs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 32 female inpatients were examined. All patients suffered from depressive disorder (middle, according to International Classification of Diseases (ICD-X). Only patients without cognitive impairment were included in the study, according to Mini-Mental State Examination. Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression was used as primary measure of efficacy. Patients were evaluated for efficacy weekly. For statistical analysis t test was used. RESULTS: Depressive disorders are more severe among older patients, with greater suicidal risk, anxiety and psychomotor agitation. Patients treated with moclobemide show quicker remission of depressive symptoms compared to patients who were treated with mianserin. CONCLUSION: Depressive disorders among older patient are very serious illnesses, but with adequate therapy, symptoms can disappear, and there is no difference between remission in depression among older and younger patients.