BMC Psychiatry is calling for submissions to our Collection on Geriatric depression. With an aging global population, the psychiatric needs of older individuals are increasingly important yet remain underexplored. This Collection seeks to advance understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of psychiatric disorders in later life.

Older adults face a distinct interplay of psychiatric symptoms that can include pervasive low mood, cognitive decline, anhedonia, psychomotor changes, and somatic complaints that are often misunderstood or overlooked. These symptoms may stem from underlying psychiatric conditions such as major depressive disorder, vascular depression, or late-onset bipolar disorder. Furthermore, comorbidities such as neurodegenerative diseases and chronic medical conditions often complicate diagnostic clarity and treatment planning. Effective management strategies may encompass pharmacological interventions, such as antidepressants and mood stabilizers, alongside non-pharmacological approaches, including neuromodulation techniques like electroconvulsive therapy and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. This Collection aims to highlight the complexity of psychiatric care in this population, emphasizing the necessity for integrative and personalized approaches.

Potential subtopics of interest include but are not limited to:

• Biomarkers and neuroimaging studies illuminating the pathophysiology of depressive disorders in older adults

• Advances in psychopharmacology and innovative therapeutics tailored to geriatric populations

• The role of social determinants, such as isolation and socioeconomic status, in exacerbating depressive symptoms

• Intersection of depressive symptoms with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease

• The impact of stigma on help-seeking behaviors and treatment adherence among older adults with depression

• Longitudinal studies tracking the evolution of depressive symptoms over the lifespan

• Research on health management strategies or models that help improve the mental health of the population, relieve depressive emotions or reduce social isolation

• The impact of proactive health on mental health

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.