It appears there may be physical reasons why depression often accompanies other medical illnesses. For example, studies suggest that depression and other diseases, such as heart disease or dementia may be interrelated. Sometimes, the biological mechanisms of depression can be triggered by another illness. Other studies suggest that depression may be a risk factor for illness. Depression in older adults can be difficult to recognize for both the patient and the doctor because the symptoms of other medical illnesses can mask or mimic the symptoms of depression.
Untreated depression can lead to suicide.
While suicide rates recently have dropped in many age groups, suicide rates among senior citizens are rising. The good news about depression is that treatment works. Treating depression is shown to improve the co-existing illnesses and extend life. Treatment also improves the quality of life for patients and their caregivers. For people with co-existing medical conditions, studies show Celexa has little or no potential to interact with other drugs and is very well tolerated.