ABSTRACT
Depression in older people slightly differs from that of younger subjects. However, the distinctive symptoms are often eclipsed by misleading ones: in the first place somatic complaints, then anxiety, dementia-like and psychotic symptoms. On the nosographic plan, the exogenous depressions are the most frequent and the least sensitive to antidepressants. The endogenous depressions are the rarest but most dangerous because of the high suicidal risk that they involve. The comorbidities are dominated by somatic disorders, more particularly those related to the side effects of polymedication, and Parkinson's disease. On the therapeutic plan, the serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitors are the antidepressants prescribed in the first intention because of their safe use. The tricyclic antidepressants are generally very toxic for elderly people; this is why they aren't recommended in the first intention. The recommended posologies are half of those usually efficient. Equivalent posologies to those used in younger people could be reached progressively, if the treatment is well tolerated. The forms with psychotic symptoms require an antipsychotic- antidepressant association. The curative treatment should be pursued during at least six months of remission to avoid relapse. A prophylactic treatment [antidepressant in the absence of manic, hypomanic or mixed episode in the antecedents, otherwise thymoregulator] during several years is recommended due to the high risk of recurrence