Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Late-life depression: an introduction
- 2 Management of late-life depression
- 3 Management of late-life depression in primary care: case studies UK
- 4 Management of more complicated depression in primary care: case studies UK
- 5 Management of late-life depression across primary and secondary care: case studies UK
- 6 Management of late-life depression around the world: summary of international commentaries
- 7 Resources
- Appendix: International commentaries
- Index
- References
4 - Management of more complicated depression in primary care: case studies UK
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 December 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Late-life depression: an introduction
- 2 Management of late-life depression
- 3 Management of late-life depression in primary care: case studies UK
- 4 Management of more complicated depression in primary care: case studies UK
- 5 Management of late-life depression across primary and secondary care: case studies UK
- 6 Management of late-life depression around the world: summary of international commentaries
- 7 Resources
- Appendix: International commentaries
- Index
- References
Summary
The next commentaries illustrate the management of patients with increasingly complex problems where the management needs to be integrated with other professionals.
Hidden alcohol consumption
Mrs Ruth M is a 79-year-old lady who attends the practice infrequently, only when she needs her blood checking for thyroid function (she has been on thyroxine for 10 years) and her flu vaccine with the practice nurse. She makes an appointment with her GP as she has been feeling really run down recently and wonders if the dose of thyroxine needs changing. She is having difficulty sleeping and has tended to withdraw from her usual activities (going to the library and reading, meeting her friends for a drink in their local pub). She admits to the GP that she does ‘enjoy a tipple’ and feels that she might have been drinking more than usual in the past few months. She often has a drink with her mid-morning coffee as it stops her feeling so awful, and she has always had a couple of whiskies in the evening to help her sleep, but that doesn't seem to be working at the moment.
What factors should be taken into account in the assessment of this patient's mood?
How should Mrs RM be investigated?
Who might the GP work with in the management of this patient?
Assessment
Background
Mrs RM has probably found it difficult to admit to feeling low and run down, and is likely to have delayed coming to the doctor.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Integrated Management of Depression in the Elderly , pp. 55 - 82Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008