Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Advances in Psychotherapy for Depressed Older Adults

  • Geriatric Disorders (W McDonald, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Psychiatry Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

We review recent advances in psychotherapies for depressed older adults, in particular those developed for special populations characterized by chronic medical illness, acute medical illness, cognitive impairment, and suicide risk factors. We review adaptations for psychotherapy to overcome barriers to its accessibility in non-specialty settings such as primary care, homebound or hard-to-reach older adults, and social service settings.

Recent Findings

Recent evidence supports the effectiveness of psychotherapies that target late-life depression in the context of specific comorbid conditions including COPD, heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and other acute conditions, cognitive impairment, and suicide risk. Growing evidence supports the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of psychotherapy modified for a variety of health care and social service settings.

Summary

Research supports the benefits of selecting the type of psychotherapy based on a comprehensive assessment of the older adult’s psychiatric, medical, functional, and cognitive status, and tailoring psychotherapy to the settings in which older depressed adults are most likely to present.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. Areán PA, Alvidrez J. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders and subsyndromal mental illness in low-income, medically ill elderly. Int J Psychiatry Med. 2001;31:9–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bruce ML, McAvay GJ, Raue PJ, et al. Major depression in elderly home health care patients. Am J Psychiatry. 2002;159:1367–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics. Older Americans 2016: key indicators of well-being. Washington, D.C.; 2016.

  4. Lyness JM, Caine ED, King DA, et al. Psychiatric disorders in older primary care patients. J Gen Intern Med. 1999;14:249–54.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Schulberg HC, Mulsant B, Schulz R, et al. Characteristics and course of major depression in older primary care patients. Int J Psychiatry Med. 1998;28:421–36.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Sirey JA, Bruce ML, Carpenter M, et al. Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among older adults receiving home delivered meals. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2008;23:1306–11.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. World report on ageing and health. Geneva: World Health Organization. Geneva, Switzerland; 2015.

  8. Alexopoulos GS. Depression in the elderly. Lancet. 2005;365:1961–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Bruce ML. Psychosocial risk factors for depressive disorders in late life. Biol Psychiatry. 2002;52:175–84.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kennedy GJ. The dynamics of depression and disability. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2001;9:99–101.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Weinberger MI, Raue PJ, Meyers BS, et al. Predictors of new onset depression in medically ill, disabled older adults at one year follow up. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2009;17:802–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. •• McGovern AR, Kiosses DN, Raue PJ, et al. Psychotherapies for late-life depression. Psychiatr Annals. 2014;44:147–52. This article outlines assessment procedures that take into account the context of medical illness, disability, and cognitive impairment in selecting type of psychotherapy for depressed older adults.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Kiosses DN, Leon AC, Areán PA. Psychosocial interventions for late-life major depression: evidence-based treatments, predictors of treatment outcomes, and moderators of treatment effects. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2011;34:377–401.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Kiosses DN, Alexopoulos GS. Problem-solving therapy in the elderly. Curr Treat Options Psychiatry. 2014;1:15–26.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. •• Huang AX, Delucchi K, Dunn LB, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of psychotherapy for late-life depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2015;23:261–73. This meta-analysis supports the effectiveness of psychotherapy for late life depression and identifies variations in effect sizes depending on type of control group used.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Raue PJ, Schulberg HC, Heo M, et al. Patients’ depression treatment preferences and initiation, adherence, and outcome: a randomized primary care study. Psychiatr Serv. 2009;60:337–43.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Raue PJ, Schulberg HC, Lewis-Fernandez R, et al. Shared decision-making in the primary care treatment of late-life major depression: a needed new intervention? Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2010;25:1101–11.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Raue PJ, Weinberger MI, Sirey JA, et al. Preferences for depression treatment among elderly home health care patients. Psychiatr Serv. 2011;62:532–7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Gum A, Areán PA, Hunkeler E, et al. Depression treatment preferences in older primary care patients. The Gerontologist. 2006;46:14–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Olfson M, Blanco C, Marcus SC. Treatment of adult depression in the United States. JAMA Intern Med. 2016;176:1482–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Nelson J, Delucchi K, Schneider L. Efficacy of second generation antidepressants in late-life depression: a meta-analysis of the evidence. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2008;16:558–67.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Tedeschini E, Levkovitz Y, Iovieno N, et al. Efficacy of antidepressants for late-life depression: a meta-analysis and meta-regression of placebo-controlled randomized trials. J Clin Psychiatry. 2011;72:1660–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Coupland CAC, Dhiman P, Barton G, et al. A study of the safety and harms of antidepressant drugs for older people: a cohort study using a large primary care database. Health Technol Assess. 2011;15:1–202.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Wu CS, Wang SC, Cheng YC, et al. Association of cerebrovascular events with antidepressant use: a case-crossover study. Am J Psychiatry. 2011;168:511–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Smoller JW, Allison M, Cochrane BB, et al.Antidepressant use and risk of incident cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among postmenopausal women in the women's health initiative study. Arch Intern Med 2009; 169:2128–2139.

  26. Alexopoulos GS, Sirey JA, Raue PJ, et al. Outcomes of depressed patients undergoing inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2006;14:466–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Yohannes AM, Connolly MJ, Baldwin RC. A feasibility study of antidepressant drug therapy in depressed elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2001;16:451–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Samples H, Mojtabai R. Antidepressant self-discontinuation: results from the collaborative sychiatric epidemiology surveys. Psychiatr Serv. 2015;66:455–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Kales HC, Kavanagh J, Chiang C, et al. Predictors of antidepressant nonadherence among older veterans with depression. Psychiatr Serv. 2016;67:728–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Avari JN, Alexopoulos GS. Models of care for late-life depression of the medically ill: examples from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and stroke. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2015;23:477–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Alexopoulos GS, Kiosses DN, Sirey JA, et al. Personalised intervention for people with depression and severe COPD. Br J Psychiatry. 2013;202:235–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. • Alexopoulos GS, Kiosses DN, Sirey JA, et al. Untangling therapeutic ingredients of a personalized intervention for patients with depression and severe COPD (PID-C). Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2014;22:1316–24. This study documents the interrelationship of the course of depression and dyspnea-related disability in depressed COPD patients and identifies the need to target adherence to both antidepressants and rehabilitation for this population.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Sirey JA, Raue PJ, Alexopoulos GS. An intervention to improve depression care in older adults with COPD. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2007;22:154–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. • Alexopoulos GS, Sirey JA, Banerjee S, et al. Two behavioral interventions for patients with major depression and severe COPD. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016;24:964–74. This RCT suggests that an adherence-focused psychosocial intervention may result in similar clinical outcomes for depressed COPD patients as a behavioral psychotherapy.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. • Freedland KE, Carney RM, Rich MW, et al. Cognitive behavior therapy for depression and self-care in heart failure patients: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175:1773–82. This RCT supports the effectiveness of CBT for depression and self-care in patients with heart failure.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Calleo JS, Amspoker AB, Sarwar AI, et al. A pilot study of a cognitive-behavioral treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with Parkinson disease. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2015;28:210–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. • Hummel J, Weisbrod C, Boesch L, et al. AIDE-acute illness and depression in elderly patients. Cognitive behavioral group psychotherapy in geriatric patients with comorbid depression: a randomized controlled trial. JAMDA. 2017;18:341–9. This RCT documents the feasibility and effectiveness of group CBT for older adults hospitalized for acute illness.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Alexopoulos GS, Wilkins VM, Marino P, et al. Ecosystem focused therapy in post stroke depression: a preliminary study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2012;27:1053–60.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  39. Wilkins VM, Martin M, Alexopoulos GS. Perceived disability and social support in older adults treated for post-stroke depression. Paper presented at the Gerontological Society of America, New Orleans; 2016.

  40. Visser MM, Heijenbrok-Kal MH, Van’t Spijker A, et al. Problem-solving therapy during outpatient stroke rehabilitation improves coping and health-related quality of life: randomized controlled trial. Stroke. 2016;47:135–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Simon SS, Cordas TA, Bottino CM. Cognitive behavioral therapies in older adults with depression and cognitive deficits: a systematic review. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2014;30:223–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. • Areán PA, Raue PJ, Mackin RS, et al. Problem solving therapy and supportive therapy in older adults with major depression and executive dysfunction. Am J Psychiatry. 2010;167:1391–8. This RCT establishes the effectiveness of PST adapted for depressed older adults with executive impairment, a population with poor response to antidepressant medication.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Alexopoulos GS, Raue PJ, Kiosses DK, et al. Problem solving therapy and supportive therapy in older adults with major depression and executive dysfunction: effect on disability. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2011;68:33–41.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Alexopoulos GS, Meyers BS, Young RC, et al. Executive dysfunction and long-term outcomes of geriatric depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2000;57:285–90.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Alexopoulos GS, Kiosses DN, Heo M, et al. Executive dysfunction and the course of geriatric depression. Biol Psychiatry. 2005;58:204–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Potter GG, Kittinger JD, Wagner HR, et al. Prefrontal neuropsychological predictors of treatment remission in late-life depression. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2004;29:2266–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Sneed JR, Roose SP, Keilp JG, et al. Response inhibition predicts poor antidepressant treatment response in very old depressed patients. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2007;15:553–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Kiosses DN, Areán PA, Teri L, et al. Home-delivered problem adaptation therapy (PATH) for depressed, cognitively impaired, disabled elders: a preliminary study. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2010;18:988–98.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  49. • Kiosses DN, Ravdin LD, Gross JJ, et al. Problem adaptation therapy for older adults with major depression and cognitive impairment: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2015;72:22–30. This RCT documents the effectiveness of a home-based behavioral intervention in reducing depression and disability among patients with cognitive impairment up to moderate dementia.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Kiosses DN, Rosenberg PB, McGovern A, et al. Depression and suicidal ideation during two psychosocial treatments in older adults with major depression and dementia. J Alzheimers Dis. 2015;48:453–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Facts and figures: suicide deaths, Available at http://www.afsp.org/understanding-suicide/facts-and-figures. Accessed June 2017.

  52. Conwell Y, Thompson C. Suicidal behavior in elders. Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2008;31:333–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Alexopoulos GS, Reynolds CF, Bruce ML, et al. Reducing suicidal ideation and depression in older primary care patients: 24-month outcomes of the PROSPECT study. Am J Psychiatry. 2009;166:882–90.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  54. Unutzer J, Katon W, Callahan CM, et al. Collaborative care management of late-life depression in the primary care setting: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2002;288:2836–45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Kiosses DN, Gross JJ, Banerjee S, et al. Negative emotions and suicidal ideation during psychosocial treatments in older adults with major depression and cognitive impairment. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2017;25:620–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Choi NG, Marti CN, Conwell Y. Effect of problem-solving therapy on depressed low-income homebound older adults’ death/suicidal ideation and hopelessness. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2016;46:323–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Brown GK, Ten Have T, Henriques GR, et al. Cognitive therapy for the prevention of suicide attempts: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2005;294:563–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Kiosses DN, Gross JJ, Alexopoulos GS. Problem adaptation therapy for suicidal ideation (PATH-SI) for middle-aged and older adults with depression and executive dysfunction. New Orleans: American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry; 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  59. National action alliance for suicide prevention RPTF: a prioritized research agenda for suicide prevention: an action plan to save lives. Available at http://actionallianceforsuicideprevention.org/sites/actionallianceforsuicideprevention.org/files/Agenda.pdf. Accessed June 2017.

  60. Raue PJ, Ghesquiere AR, Bruce ML. Suicide risk in primary care: identification and management in older adults. Curr Psychiatr Rev. 2014;16:466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Chung DT, Ryan CJ, Hadji-Pavlovic D, et al. Suicide rates after discharge from psychiatric facilities. A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2017;

  62. Heisel MJ, Talbot NL, King DA, et al. Adapting interpersonal psychotherapy for older adults at risk for suicide. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2015;23:87–98.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Areán PA, Sirey JA, Raue PJ, et al. Implementing evidence-based psychotherapies in settings serving older adults: challenges and solutions. Psychiatr Serv. 2012;63:605–7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  64. Bartels SJ, Drake RE. Evidence-based geriatric psychiatry: an overview. Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2005;28:763–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Gallo JJ, Hwang S, Joo JH, et al. Multimorbidity, depression, and mortality in primary care: randomized clinical trial of an evidence-based depression care management program on mortality risk. J Gen Intern Med. 2016;31:380–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Bogner HR, Ford DE, Gallo JJ. The role of cardiovascular disease in the identification and management of depression by primary care physicians. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2006;14:71–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  67. Rothschild SK, Emery-Tiburcio EE, Mack LJ, et al. BRIGHTEN heart: design and baseline characteristics of a randomized controlled trial for minority older adults with depression and cardiometabolic syndrome. Contemp Clin Trials. 2016;48:99–109.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. • Alexopoulos GS, Raue PJ, McCulloch C, et al. Clinical case management vs. case management with problem solving therapy in low-income, disabled elders with major depression: a randomized clinical trial. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016;24:50–9. This RCT suggests that case management may result in similar clinical outcomes for depressed and disabled low-income older adults, compared to case management plus PST.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Cohen A, Houck PR, Szanto K, et al. Social inequalities in response to antidepressant treatment in older adults. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006;63:50–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Areán PA, Raue PJ, McCulloch C, et al. Effects of problem-solving therapy and clinical case management on disability in low-income, older adults. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2015;23:1307–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Choi NG, Hegel MT, Marti N, et al. Telehealth problem-solving therapy for depressed low-income homebound older adults. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2014;22:263–71.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  72. Choi NG, Marti CN, Bruce ML, et al. Six-month postintervention depression and disability outcomes of in-home telehealth problem-solving therapy for depressed, low-income homebound older adults. Depress Anxiety. 2014;31:653–61.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  73. Egede LE, Acierno R, Knapp RG, et al. Psychotherapy for depression in older veterans via telemedicine: a randomised, open-label, non-inferiority trial. Lancet Psychiatry. 2015;2:693–701.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Titov N, Dear BF, Ali S, et al. Clinical and cost-effectiveness of therapist-guided internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy for older adults with symptoms of depression: a randomized controlled trial. Behav Ther. 2015;46:193–205.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. • O’Moore KA, Newby JM, Andrews G. Internet cognitive behaviour therapy for depression in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Arthritis Care Res. 2017; This RCT establishes broad benefits of internet-based CBT for depressed patients with osteoarthritis.

  76. Chrischilles EA, Lemke JH, Wallace RB, et al. Prevalence and characteristics of multiple analgesic drug use in an elderly study group. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1990;38:979–84.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. DiMatteo MR, Lepper HS, Croghan TW. Depression is a risk factor for noncompliance with medical treatment: meta-analysis of the effects of anxiety and depression on patient adherence. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:2101–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Berman J, Furst L. Addressing the needs of depressed older New Yorkers: a public-private partnership: EASE-D and other interventions. Internal Report: NYC Department for the Aging. 2014.

  79. Sirey JA, Greenfield A, Depasquale A, et al. Improving engagement in mental health treatment for home meal recipients with depression. Clin Interv Aging. 2013;2013:1305–12.

    Google Scholar 

  80. Sirey JA, Halkett A, Chambers S, et al. PROTECT: a pilot program to integrate mental health treatment into elder abuse services for older women. J Elder Abuse Neglect. 2015;27:438–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Sirey JA, Berman J, Salamone A, et al. Feasibility of integrating mental health screening and services into routine elder abuse practice to improve client outcomes. J Elder Abuse Neglect. 2015;27:254–69.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Sirey JA. Engaging to improve engagement. Psychiatr Serv. 2013;64:205.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. Sirey JA, Franklin AJ, McKenzie SE, et al. Race, stigma, and mental health referrals among clients of aging services who screened positive for depression. Psychiatr Serv. 2014;65:537–40.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  84. Sirey JA, Berman J, Halkett A, et al. Storm impact and depression among older adults living in hurricane sandy-affected areas. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2017;11:97–109.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  85. Sirey JA. Reducing depression and suicide risk by integrating brief therapy into senior centers in NYC. Paper to be presented at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. 2017.

  86. •• Alexopoulos GS, Arean P. A model for streamlining psychotherapy in the RDoC era: the example of ‘Engage’. Mol Psychiatry. 2014;19:14–9. This article describes the neurobiological basis of a new streamlined behavioral psychotherapy for late life depression, with the goal of increasing the potential for its use in community care settings.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  87. Chambers DA. Advancing the science of implementation: a workshop summary. Admin Pol Ment Health. 2008;35:3–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  88. Goldman HH, Azrin ST. Public policy and evidence-based practice. Psychiatr Clinic North Am. 2003;26:899–917.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  89. • Alexopoulos GS, Raue PJ, Kiosses DN, et al. Comparing Engage with PST in late-life major depression: a preliminary report. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2015;23:506–13. This pilot study documents similar reductions in depressive symptoms for older patients receiving Engage and PST, and briefer training time for clinicians assigned to learn the Engage intervention.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  90. Alexopoulos GS, Raue PJ, Gunning F, et al. “Engage” therapy: behavioral activation and improvement of late-life major depression. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2016;24:320–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Grant Nos. R01 MH084872 and P30 MH085943 from the National Institute of Mental Health.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patrick J. Raue.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

Patrick J. Raue, Amanda R McGovern, Dimitris N. Kiosses, and Jo Anne Sirey report grants from NIMH during the conduct of the study.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Geriatric Disorders

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Raue, P.J., McGovern, A.R., Kiosses, D.N. et al. Advances in Psychotherapy for Depressed Older Adults. Curr Psychiatry Rep 19, 57 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-017-0812-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-017-0812-8

Keywords

Navigation