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Mark, I am glad your dad is doing better. There may be a silver lining to the depression. He is showing insight into his his mental state e.g. feeling he is losing his mind. That believe it or not is a positive prognostic sign. He may have had a psychotic depression or this may be a post-psychotic depression which often occurs when an individual is recovering from a psychosis. In any case an antidepressant may be helpful. I would suggest talking to your dad's MD's and explaining your observations both of now and several months ago. Waiting may be the best strategy or adding slowly an antidepressant such as Zoloft might be helpful. It should be his Doctor's call depending on the clinical situation. Good luck Mark Klapper wrote: > > As posted here previously, my father has been in the hospital for nearly > four weeks due to med-related problems. They are finally getting him > back on his feet, but he still has a way to go. We finally prevailed on > the docs to leave him on Sinimet and Clozaril, and go from there. (He > gets 2 Sinimet 25/100 3x, and one at bedtime.) > > We've realized as time has gone on that he is very depressed...he is > self-absorbed and has had crying spells. He says that he thinks he is > losing his mind, and feels that people do not believe him anymore. > Looking back, it seems he was probably suffering from depression before > he landed in the hospital. There would be an episode of minor confusion > (i.e. mixing up a date), followed by a realization of what he had done, > followed by withdrawal. When he visited us a few months ago, he was > quiet and really did not initiate much conversation. He also tended to > act panicky and helpless over minor incidents, calling the neighbors in > the middle of the night because my mother was coughing. > > I'm hesitant to push the docs to add another med, as he hasn't fully > stabilized. I'm wondering if there are other strategies we can use that > can boost his spirits. We've tried to be reassuring and positive, but > it doesn't seem to stick. > > Any suggestions? > > Mark Klapper -- CHARLES T. MEYER, M.D. Middleton, WI [log in to unmask]