Psychological therapies for depression with older adults: A qualitative review

Abstract

In this article, we qualitatively review the effects of psychological treatments for older adults. Group comparison studies indicate that all psychological treatments produce equivalent statistically significant effects. Studies using measures of individual change report more modest, although still valuable results, with again no differences between types of intervention. Self-report measures of change are more conservative than observer-rated measures. There are few data on the comparative cost-efficacy of different therapies, although psychological therapies in general have been shown to reduce subsequent use of medical services. Limited studies have indicated that psychological therapies may be less cost-effective than medication.