Hi Bill

Here is a link to the HealthCentral My Depression Connection with general information about antidepressant medication.

The pro's of antidepressant medication is that they can make a huge difference. They can lift & stabilize mood. Not everyone is a good candidate for antidepressants however. For example, someone with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder can tip into mania. Even if a person is a suitable candidate they may be what is known as ‘treatment resistant' and simply not respond.

Whether depression is a disorder of mood or an issue of thinking is an interesting issue. Most psychologists prefer an approach called cognitive therapy. This focuses an how a person's thoughts and beliefs affect their mood. By educating the patient to think differently some very good results have been achieved (and no drugs are involved). This is unlikely to be helpful to someone with Alzheimer's.

The medical profession tend to opt for depression as disorder of mood which has its basis in an imbalance of neurotransmitters (dopamine and serotonin notably). Modern SSRI drugs aim to increase the level of serotonin available in the brain and so improve mood.

An accurate diagnosis from a doctor with access to the patient and her/his medical and psychiatric history is the way to go.

Hope this helps--All the best--Keep the blogs coming!!

Christine