Thursday, July 17, 2008

Depression And Antidepressants Increase Risk Of Falling In Later Life

Depression And Antidepressants Increase Risk Of Falling In Later Life

Older people have a high risk for falls and the ensuing injuries. This risk, according to an article released on June 17, 2008 in the open-access journal PLoS ONE, is increased by the presence of depression, and increased even more with medication for depression.

Falls are a common problem in seniors, who often have impaired reflexes and strength. As depression is diagnosed, these same patients are often administered medication, including Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), which form the most commonly prescribed family of antidepressants.

According to the published article, depression has been previously correlated with falls: "People with depression and those taking antidepressants, especially SSRIs, are 50% more likely to fall than other older people," said lead author and associate professor Ngaire Kerse. He additionally pointed out the importance of falls in caring for the elderly, as they are "very common and risk factors for falls are easy to identify. "

READ MORE @ MEDICAL NEWS TODAY