The relative efficacy of psychotherapy in the treatment of geriatric depression

Abstract

In contrast to younger adults, a paucity of research examines the relative efficacy of treatments for depression among the elderly. Limited research demonstrates the utility of various psychosocial interventions in comparison and relative to control conditions. This brief, but coherent body of research attests to the efficacy of psychotherapy. The question remains, however, why somatic interventions (e.g., medication, electro-convulsive therapy) remain the treatments of choice among health care professionals. This article examines various explanations for the limited use of psychotherapy for geriatric depression.