What is the role of alternative treatments in late-life depression?
Late-life depression remains challenging to treat. One major limitation to treatment is the concern over medication-related side effects to which the elderly are especially vulnerable. Also, because many elderly people are already taking multiple medications for medical conditions, there is the concern over drug-drug interactions. This article reviews various complementary and alternative medicine interventions for late-life depression, including natural remedies, exercise, yoga, tai chi, massage therapy, music therapy, and religion and spirituality.
Depression Clinical and Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 1 Bowdoin Square, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address: mnyer@partners.org.
Maren
M
Nyer
James
J
Doorley
Kelley
K
Durham
Albert S
AS
Yeung
Marlene P
MP
Freeman
David
D
Mischoulon
D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Exercise; Late-life depression; Massage therapy; Music therapy; Natural remedies; Spirituality; Tai chi; Yoga