Highlights
- •What is the primary question addressed by this study? What are is the presentation and course of major depression complicated by globus pharyngeus and weight loss in the older adult?
- •What is the main finding of this study? The complication of major depression occurring with globus pharyngeus in the older adult may be accompanied by life threatening weight loss and aspiration of oral secretions. The depression, globus pharyngeus and weight loss can be simultaneously reversed with the timely offering of electroconvulsive therapy.
- •What is the meaning of the finding? Most cases of globus pharyngeus are self-limited. However, when globus pharyngeus occurs in the setting of major depression in the older adult, then weight loss may be progressive and severe, and accompanied by life-threatening aspiration. The appearance of aspiration or marked weight loss should lead to early consideration of electroconvulsive therapy.
Abstract
Aspiration pneumonia and extreme weight loss are risks whenever globus pharyngeus
(GP) complicates major depressive disorder (MDD) in the older adult. The timely administration
of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may reverse GP in this context. We review cases
of GP in depressed older adults and describe both successful outcomes, as well as
a fatal outcome associated with delays in offering ECT. MDD in the older adult complicated
by GP and marked weight loss, or repeated aspiration, should be considered an urgent
indication for ECT.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 25, 2021
Accepted:
October 19,
2021
Received in revised form:
October 13,
2021
Received:
August 10,
2021
Footnotes
Accompanying podcast is available at: https://www.ajgponline.org/
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
