title: Effectiveness of treatments for depression in older people.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a systematic review of the evidence for the effectiveness of a range of possible treatments for depression in older people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature search using the PubMed, PsycInfo and Cochrane Library databases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatments that have been suggested to be effective for depression were grouped under three categories: medical treatments, psychological treatments, and lifestyle changes/alternative treatments. We describe each treatment, review the studies of its effectiveness in people aged > or = 60 years, and give a rating of the level of evidence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatments with the best evidence of effectiveness are antidepressants, electroconvulsive therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, reminiscence therapy, problem-solving therapy, bibliotherapy (for mild to moderate depression) and exercise. There is limited evidence to support the effectiveness of transcranial magnetic stimulation, dialectical behaviour therapy, interpersonal therapy, light therapy (for people in nursing homes or hospitals), St John's wort and folate in reducing depressive symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. cathy.frazer@anu.edu.au
authors.forename: Cathy J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Frazer
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000728:Androgens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008280:Magnetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D013739:Testosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D013739:Testosterone