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Risa B. Burns, MD; Erin E. Hartman, MS

JAMA. 2004;291:1260.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

In a Clinical Crossroads article published in March 2002, Kurt Kroenke, MD, discussed the prevalence, natural history, differential diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of depression in older adults.¹ The patient, Mr S, had been having difficulties with depression for about 2 years following coronary artery bypass graft surgery and subsequent complications. About 2 years earlier, Mr S started taking venlafaxine XR (75 mg/d) with initial improvement of his symptoms. However, even with an increase in the dose, his depression worsened. He acknowledged a lack of energy, lack of interest in his usual activities, social withdrawal, loss of appetite, and hypersomnia. His symptoms improved after seeing a social worker and a further increase in his dose of venlafaxine XR to 150 mg/d. Mr S wondered whether he could discontinue his antidepressant medication.

In his discussion, Dr Kroenke explained that for a first episode of . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Mr S: The Patient