More Older People With Depression Could Benefit From Non-Drug Treatments

A study from the University of Bristol and University College London published in the British Journal of General Practice suggests seniors' mental health should be prioritized by healthcare professionals (HCPs), reports Medical Xpress . "Our research found primary care services may not give depression in older people the same priority as physical health, which is made worse by a lack of referral options suitable to older people's needs," said Bristol Professor Yoav Ben-Shlomo. "Further investment in psychological and social resources is needed, especially if older adults are to be encouraged to use psychological services." The researchers reviewed 27 qualitative studies on how primary care practitioners treat depression in seniors, and learned that many HCPs considered late-life depression to be caused by social isolation and functional decline, but appropriate treatments were limited. Good management of late-life depression seemed more reliant on the skills and interest of individual general practitioners and nurses than on any organized strategy.