Metabolic Syndrome Could Make It Harder for Older Adults to Respond to Antidepressant Therapy

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society examined whether Metabolic Syndrome in depressed older adults has an effect on their response to antidepressant treatment, reports News-Medical . Older adults with depression are at higher risk for having difficulty thinking and making decisions, as well as performing regular daily activities and managing their personal care. Included in the study were adults 60 and older with Metabolic Syndrome and depression. Researchers treated participants with the antidepressant venlafaxine, and after six weeks of treatment, the dose was upped if participants' depression scores were still high. Participants had follow-up visits every one to two weeks, and they were assessed for their response to treatment again after 12 weeks. The researchers determined people with Metabolic Syndrome had a more chronic life history of depression, while their depression symptoms at the start of the study had greater severity. In addition, they took longer to respond to antidepressant therapy. From these observations, the researchers suggest older adults with Metabolic Syndrome may be an important population for healthcare providers to pay close attention to when screening for and treating depression.