Depression and anxiety are common in persons with dementia (PWD) and associated with poor outcomes. We explored frequency, pharmacologic management and mental health service use in PWD and depression symptoms with/without coexisting anxiety symptoms. The sample comprised 160 community-dwelling PWD in a trial to prevent development of aggression. Baseline data on depression and anxiety symptoms, psychotropic medications and mental health service use were examined. Regarding participants, 65 (41%) lacked clinically significant depression or anxiety symptoms, 45 (28%) had depression symptoms, 43 (27%) had depression and anxiety symptoms, and 7 (4%) had anxiety symptoms. Comorbid anxiety was associated with more severe depression symptoms. One third with depression symptoms and one half with depression and anxiety symptoms were taking an antidepressant. Mental health service use was very low, regardless of depression symptom severity or coexisting anxiety. Research needs to evaluate therapies for depressed PWD, but treatment of those with comorbid anxiety and depression is more urgent. Clinical Trial Registration for Parent Trial: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02380703)

抑郁和焦虑在痴呆症患者 (PWD) 中很常见，并且与不良预后相关。我们探讨了患有/不伴有焦虑症状的残疾人和抑郁症状的频率、药物管理和心理健康服务的使用。该样本由 160 名居住在社区的残疾人组成，旨在防止攻击行为的发生。检查了抑郁和焦虑症状、精神药物和心理健康服务使用的基线数据。参与者中，65 人（41%）缺乏临床上显着的抑郁或焦虑症状，45 人（28%）有抑郁症状，43 人（27%）有抑郁和焦虑症状，7 人（4%）有焦虑症状。共病焦虑与更严重的抑郁症状相关。三分之一有抑郁症状的人，一半有抑郁和焦虑症状的人正在服用抗抑郁药。无论抑郁症状严重程度或共存焦虑如何，心理健康服务的使用率都非常低。研究需要评估抑郁性残障人士的治疗方法，但对患有焦虑症和抑郁症的患者的治疗更为紧迫。家长试验的临床试验注册：ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02380703)