What is the Role of Alternative Treatments in Late-life Depression? 


Author: Nyer M, Doorley J, Durham K, Yeung AS, Freeman MP, Mischoulon D.

Affiliation: 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.
Conference/Journal: Psychiatr Clin North Am.
Date published: 2013 dec
Other:
 Volume ID: 36   ,  Issue ID: 4   ,  Pages: 577-96   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2013.08.012   ,  Word Count: 93  
    

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.

Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:

Exercise, Late-life depression, Massage therapy, Music therapy, Natural remedies, Spirituality, Tai chi, Yoga



PMID: 24229658