Elderly depressives: treatment and follow-up.

Seventy-four depressed inpatients, 65 years of age or more, were consecutively treated in the Geriatric Unit of St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital, during the years 1972 to 1978. Four died while inpatients and sixty-nine left hospital after an average stay of 3 1/2 months. Ten patients had been readmitted during follow-up and within a period of between six months and two years after discharge. Five outpatients have died, two by suicide. Elderly depressives respond well to modern treatment provided medication and aftercare are maintained.