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