There is broad agreement in the literature that depression in the community dwelling elderly is under-diagnosed and under-treated by general practitioners.

Somatisation, overlap with medical illness, bereavement and atypical presentations of depression in this age-group may contribute to the difficulties in diagnosis in primary care settings.

Furthermore, the apparent reluctance of primary care physicians to treat depression in the elderly may reflect the mistaken notion that depression in this population is a benign condition, an understandable reaction to physical illness and as such untreatable.

Fundamental changes in the patterns of collaboration between psychiatry and general practice will be necessary to overcome these barriers to the detection and treatment of depression in the community dwelling elderly.