Late-Life Depression: Detection, Risk Reduction, and Somatic Intervention: Commentary on Delano-Wood and Abeles.

Abstract

Somatic interventions such as antidepressant medication and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) have the potential to produce dramatic, potentially life-saving, responses in elderly patients suffering from depression. At the same time, the body of systematically collected evidence supporting the use of such interventions in geriatric populations is not robust and may not be sufficient to adequately guide clinicians regarding their use. In light of the greater risks associated with somatic treatments in the elderly vis-a-vis younger populations, clinicians suggesting the application of somatic interventions for late-life depression should be aware of the limitations to the data and should recommend these interventions with caution. To maximize effectiveness, somatic interventions should be incorporated into a comprehensive psychosocial treatment plan.