This CME activity was made possible by an educational grant from

INTRODUCTION
eMedicine is delighted to offer this free CME activity based on presentations given at the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) meeting in San Diego, California, on March 5, 2005. Persons who attended the symposium are NOT eligible to receive AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for completing this enduring material. Please note that the course is accredited only for physicians (MD, DO, or equivalent). All other participants receive a certificate of completion. The AAGP designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.

A significant percentage of the elderly population will experience psychiatric disorders; therefore, it is imperative to educate health care professionals in the area of geriatric psychiatry. With age, psychiatric symptoms worsen; however, a substantial proportion of older patients receive no treatment or inadequate treatment, which may contribute to the high suicide rate among the elderly. One challenge for the clinician is to distinguish depressive disorders, including late-onset depression, from other ailments. The most common psychiatric disorder in the elderly, however, is anxiety, which can intensify the course of depression and systemic conditions. Moreover, it is imperative to consider drug-drug interactions and preexisting somatic illnesses when treating the elderly. This CME activity examines the unique features of depression in the elderly, medication safety and tolerability, and management of comorbid somatic and psychiatric illnesses.

Upon successful completion of this exciting new course, participants will be able to (1) recognize comorbid depression and medical illness, (2) effectively diagnose and treat comorbid depression and anxiety in the elderly, and (3) demonstrate knowledge of appropriate pharmacotherapies for the elderly.

DESCRIPTION This interactive CME activity is composed of the following audio/slide/video presentations: Recognizing Depressive Disorders Comorbid With Medical Illnesses in the Elderly (William J. Burke, MD) Comorbid Depression and Anxiety in Geriatric Patients: Challenges and Treatment (Katherine Shear, MD) Antidepressants and Anxiolytics in the Elderly: A Focus on Safety (George S. Alexopoulos, MD)