title: Treatment preferences for depression in the elderly.
abstract: If patients are treated according to their personal preferences, depression treatment success is higher. It is not known which treatment options for late-life depression are preferred by patients aged 75 years and over and whether there are determinants of these preferences.
  
  
  
  The data were derived from the German "Late-life depression in primary care: needs, health care utilization, and costs (AgeMooDe)" study. Patients aged 75+ years (N = 1,230) were recruited from primary care practices. Depressive symptoms were determined using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Support for eight treatment options was determined.
  
  
  
  Medication, psychotherapy, talking to friends and family, and exercise were the preferred treatment options. Having a GDS score ≥ 6 significantly lowered the endorsement of some treatment options. For each treatment option, the probability of choosing the indecisive category "I do not know" was significantly increased in participants with moderate depressive symptoms.
  
  
  
  Depressive symptoms influence the preference for certain treatment options and also increase indecision in patients. The high preference for psychotherapy suggests a much higher demand for late-life psychotherapy in the future. Healthcare systems should begin to prepare to meet this anticipated need. Future studies should include previous experience with treatment methods as a confounding variable.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine,Occupational Health and Public Health,University of Leipzig,Leipzig,Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luck-Sikorski
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine,Occupational Health and Public Health,University of Leipzig,Leipzig,Germany.
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry,University of Bonn,Bonn,Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heilmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry,University of Bonn,Bonn,Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Practice,Medical Faculty,University of Kiel,Kiel,Germany.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaduszkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Primary Medical Care,University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf,Hamburg,Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Mental Health,Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University,Mannheim,Germany.
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weyerer
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Mental Health,Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University,Mannheim,Germany.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Werle
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Practice,Hannover Medical School, Germany,Hannover,Germany.
authors.forename: Birgitt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wiese
authors.affiliation: Institute of General Practice,Hannover Medical School, Germany,Hannover,Germany.
authors.forename: Lilia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moor
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research,Hamburg Center for Health Economics,University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf,Hamburg,Germany.
authors.forename: Jens-Oliver
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Bock
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research,Hamburg Center for Health Economics,University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf,Hamburg,Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Helmut
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: König
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine,Occupational Health and Public Health,University of Leipzig,Leipzig,Germany.
authors.forename: Steffi G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Riedel-Heller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003657:Decision Making; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: depression; late-life; old age; shared decision making; treatment