Effectiveness of home treatment for elderly people with depression: randomised controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
There is little evidence available about what service models are effective in the treatment of elderly people with depression.


OBJECTIVE
To test the effectiveness of home treatment for elderly people with depression living independently.


METHODS
In a randomised controlled trial, 60 out-patients aged over 64 years with major depression were allocated to a home treatment model over a 1-year period or to conventional psychiatric out-patient care. The primary outcome was the level of depressive symptoms after 3 and 12 months. The secondary outcomes were global functioning, subjective quality of life (SQOL), admissions to nursing homes, duration of psychiatric hospital treatments and the cost of care.


RESULTS
Individuals receiving home treatment had significantly fewer symptoms of depression, better global functioning and a higher SQOL at 3 months and at 12 months. Over 1 year they had fewer admissions to nursing homes, spent less time in psychiatric in-patient care and the cost of care was lower.


CONCLUSIONS
Home treatment appears an effective and cost-effective service model for elderly people with depression.
Psychosocial Center Graz East, Graz, Austria. guenter.klug@gfsg.at
Günter
G
Klug
Gerhard
G
Hermann
Brigitte
B
Fuchs-Nieder
Manuela
M
Panzer
Andrea
A
Haider-Stipacek
Hans Georg
HG
Zapotoczky
Stefan
S
Priebe
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics; D001317:Austria; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006699:Home Care Services; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life