Advances in the treatment of geriatric depression

Abstract

Late-life depression is a rather difficult and complicated issue. Although there have been significant advances in our knowledge in this area, a large number of questions still remain unanswered. The aim of this review is a critical presentation of the current evidence for treatment of depression in the elderly. We summarize the evidence for the effectiveness and safety of a range of proposed treatments, including pharmacological, psychological and alternative therapies and lifestyle changes. The treatments with best evidence of effectiveness are antidepressant pharmacotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, cognitive–behavioral therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, reminiscence therapy, problem-solving therapy and exercise. Implications for future research are discussed.