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M F Tourigny-Rivard

Publications and source records attributed to M F Tourigny-Rivard.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

Pharmacotherapy of affective disorders in old age.

OBJECTIVE: To present a clinical guide for the selection of safe and effective pharmacological treatment for depressed geriatric patients. METHOD: A review of the use of antidepressants in the elderly is presented based on clinical experience and a search of MEDLINE and PsychInfo data bases. Emphasis is placed on the following newer antidepressants: fluvoxamine, sertraline, paroxetine, nefazodone, venlafaxine, and moclobemide. RESULTS: With the advent of newer antidepressants, physicians have been given a wider range of generally safer antidepressant medications. Although these medications appear to have favourable side effect profile in elderly patients, this review is limited because there are few published studies of the use of these newer antidepressants in the elderly. CONCLUSION: Depression is a common psychiatric problem in old age, but it can usually be treated successfully. Although the use of antidepressants in geriatric populations is more likely to be complicated by poorly tolerated side effects and drug interactions than in younger patients, this review should help clinicians use currently available medications to the best advantage of their geriatric patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Observed changes in the functioning of nursing home residents after relocation.

This study investigated the effects of environmental changes on the functioning of nursing home residents who were relocated to a newly built facility. Assessment via a multidimensional observation scale revealed that the physical functioning and orientation of the relocated residents were not affected. A stabilizing effect on mood was noted along with a relative increase in withdrawn behavior. Mortality rate showed a decline. These apparent positive and negative effects are discussed in relation to the conditions surrounding the move, the extent of change, and the relative quality of the new environment.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Treating depression in old age: is it worth the effort?

Physical changes which accompany aging and the presence of concurrent medical problems often complicate the treatment of depression in old age. When physicians treat patients who have a long list of problems and medications they can become overly worried about the potential risks of treatment and deny the patient a chance at recovery. Clinicians should, however, remember that treatment response is generally good for elderly persons who have major depressive episodes while spontaneous remissions are less likely to occur. The risks of treatment can be minimized by careful evaluation of the patient's problems, choosing medications which have a low side effect profile, starting at a low dose and closely monitoring for side effects. The risks of leaving the depression untreated are usually greater than the potential risks of treatment. The consensus among clinicians interested in the care of elderly depressives is that treatment efforts are usually rewarded by improved quality of life and good remission of depressive symptoms. We need, however, to continue to look for rapidly efficacious treatments with fewer side effects.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

The dexamethasone suppression test in an elderly population.

Impaired suppression of plasma cortisol levels following a single midnight dose of dexamethasone has been well documented in a large subgroup of depressed patients. To interpret meaningfully this 24-hr dexamethasone suppression test in geriatric patients, the effect of age per se was examined by comparing the pattern and duration of suppression in ten healthy elderly and ten healthy young subjects. Advanced age did not appear to affect the overnight dexamethasone suppression in healthy humans and should not invalidate the use of dexamethasone suppression test as a laboratory tool in the diagnosis and investigation of depression.

Adult↗