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Neurobiologische Subtypen der Altersdepression

Ihre Bedeutung für Diagnostik und Therapie

Neurobiological subtypes of geriatric depression

Their importance for diagnosis and treatment

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Zusammenfassung

Im Alter kommt es zu einer Zunahme biologischer Einschränkungen, die durch die häufige medizinische Komorbidität noch verstärkt werden. Diese betreffen jedoch nicht nur körperliche, sondern auch seelische Prozesse. So liegen bei der Altersdepression einerseits Effekte rezidivierender depressiver Episoden über die Lebensspanne auf die Neurobiologie der Depression vor. Andererseits besteht ein enger Zusammenhang zwischen kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen und zerebrovaskulären Veränderungen in zerebralen Arealen, die für die Emotionsverarbeitung und -steuerung wichtig sind. Hier liegt eine biobehaviorale Interdependenz vor, die für die Differenzialdiagnostik und Therapie der Altersdepression eine große Bedeutung hat.

Abstract

With age, increasing biological constraints on functioning are often aggravated by increases in multimorbidity. These effects, however, not only have an impact on somatic, but also psychological processes. In geriatric depression, for instance, there are both effects of recurrent depressive episodes on the neurobiology of the disorder as well as effects of cardiovascular comorbidity that interact with brain areas associated with the perception and regulation of emotions. These biobehavioral interactions have strong implications for both the differential diagnosis and treatment of geriatric depression.

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Interessenkonflikt

Der korrespondierende Autor weist auf folgende Beziehungen hin: Vertragshonorare der Fa. Merz und der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Deutschland

    M.A. Rapp

  2. Klinik für Gerontopsychiatrie, Asklepios Fachklinikum Brandenburg, Anton-Saefkow-Allee 2, 14772, Brandenburg a.d. Havel, Deutschland

    M.A. Rapp

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Rapp, M. Neurobiologische Subtypen der Altersdepression. Z Gerontol Geriat 46, 106–111 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-012-0470-8

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