National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) researchers report development of the first diagnostic criteria for the depression that commonly occurs in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Gary Kennedy, president of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, said that while the presence of depression in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is familiar to clinicians, family members, caregivers and researchers, the lack of diagnostic criteria has led to under-recognition and under-treatment.

The new criteria, set out in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, are expected to lead to new studies of depression in Alzheimer patients, which is linked to increased disability, morbidity and mortality.

"For families of Alzheimer's patients, we're hopeful these criteria lead to a step up in research for Alzheimer's disease,'' said Jason Olin, chief of NIMH's geriatric psychopharmacology program. "The criteria will also help clinicians be more sensitive to depression in Alzheimer's patients, and more likely to treat it."

Other Sources: American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry