Abstract
Depressive disorders and bipolar and related disorders are not uncommon among older adults. These disorders are associated with significant morbidity and mortality among individuals who suffer from them. Additionally, the neurobiology these disorders indicate greater burden of medical comorbidities. These disorders are often under- or misdiagnosed among older adults due to limited awareness of their prevalence, lack of standardized diagnostic protocols, and the ageist attitudes toward older adults with psychiatric disorders. Emerging data indicates the efficacy for both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy in the management of these disorders. In this chapter we review the epidemiology, neurobiology, diagnosis, and the available treatments for these important disorders among older adults.