[Gerontopsychiatry versus general psychiatry in the inpatient treatment in late-life depression].

Objective: Is the integrated treatment of depressed elderly patients on a geriatric psychiatry unit superior to the treatment on a general psychiatry unit?

Method: Retrospective comparison of treatment outcomes of depression in elderly patients on geriatric and general psychiatry units.

Results: The clinical outcome showed comparable results. Somatic examinations turned out to be more comprehensive on a geriatric psychiatry unit, which also showed better results in pharmacotherapeutic safety.

Conclusions: Regarding risk management, geriatric psychiatry units proved superior to general psychiatry units.