Dépression du sujet âgé : l'affaire du psychiatre

The role of a psychiatrist in geriatric units is complex because of the dissimilarity of clinical presentations in comparison with younger adult cases. Our usual landmarks become inconsistant due to untypical symptoms and problems linked with the superpositioning of syndroms. The polypathology phenomenon induces intrications of the diseases' limits. Concerning the untypical nature of the symptoms observed, we propose two hypotheses: (i) the effect of ageing on the manner in which symptoms are expressed; (ii) the fact that our standard reading of the situations based on the classical nosographical classifications is irrelevant. Low tolerance to most psychotropic drugs and low rates of efficacy are responsible for limitations in therapeutics. Psychotherapies are widely underused. In order to understand geriatric clinical presentations, we have to change our point of view; which is why a neuro-psycho-geriatric cooperation is relevant.