Cited by 192Psychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesMental Health Treatment and Access

Managing depression in older age: psychological interventions

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Cuijpers, Pim, Karyotaki, Eirini, Pot, Anne Margriet, Park, Mijung, Reynolds, Charles F.·2014·Maturitas

Abstract

The number of studies on psychological treatments of depression in older adults has increased considerably in the past years. Therefore, we conducted an updated meta-analysis of these studies. A total of 44 studies comparing psychotherapies to control groups, other therapies or pharmacotherapy could be included. The overall effect size indicating the difference between psychotherapy and control groups was g=0.64 (95% CI: 0.47-0.80), which corresponds with a NNT of 3. These effects were maintained at 6 months or longer post randomization (g=0.27; 95%CI: 0.16-0.37). Specific types of psychotherapies that were found to be effective included cognitive behavior therapy (g=0.45; 95% CI: 0.29-0.60), life review therapy (g=0.59; 95% CI: 0.36-0.82) and problem-solving therapy (g=0.46; 95% CI: 0.18-0.74). Treatment compared to waiting list control groups resulted in larger effect sizes than treatments compared to care-as-usual and other control groups (p<0.05). Studies with lower quality resulted in higher effect sizes than high-quality studies (p<0.05). Direct comparisons between different types of psychotherapy suggested that cognitive behavior therapy and problem-solving therapy may be more effective than non-directive counseling and other psychotherapies may be less effective than other therapies. This should be considered with caution, however, because of the small number of studies. There were not enough studies to examine the long-term effects of psychotherapies and to compare psychotherapy with pharmacotherapy or combined treatments. We conclude that it is safe to assume that psychological therapies in general are effective in late-life depression, and this is especially well-established for cognitive behavior therapy and problem-solving therapy.

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  • Several reviews have reported promising results of psychological therapies for older people in the general community, particularly using CBT, problem-solving therapy, and reminiscence therapies.

    “Several reviews have reported promising results of psychological therapies for older people in the general community, particularly using CBT, problem-solving therapy, and reminiscence therapies (Cuijpers 2014;Jonsson 2016;Wilson 2008).”
  • Several reviews have reported promising results of psychological therapies for older people, particularly using CBT, problem-solving therapy, and reminiscence therapies.

    “Several reviews have reported promising results of psychological therapies for older people, particularly using CBT, problem-solving therapy, and reminiscence therapies (Cuijpers 2006; Cuijpers 2014; Wilson 2008).”

    From Psychotherapeutic treatments for depression in older adults (2024) · cites this paper as Cuijpers 2014

  • Psychotherapy is similarly effective as pharmacological approaches in the treatment of late-life depression.

    “Meta-analytic data suggest that psychotherapy is similarly effective as pharmacological approaches in the treatment of LLD287,288, with a number needed to treat of 3 (ref. 288).”
  • In randomized controlled trials comparing psychotherapy for late-life depression to control conditions, the largest effects are for cognitive behavior therapy (g = 0.45), problem-solving therapy (g = 0.46), and life review therapy (g = 0.59).

    “A meta-analysis of RCTs comparing psychotherapy for LLD to various control conditions found the largest effects for cognitive behavior therapy (CBT; g = 0.45), problem-solving therapy (g = 0.46), and life review therapy (g = 0.59)287.”
  • Psychotherapies may have a greater impact than antidepressant medication in the long run.

    “Psychotherapies may have a greater impact than antidepressant medication in the long run216, 217.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Barth J, Munder T, Gerger H, et al. Comparative efficacy of seven psychothe- rapeutic interventions for depressed patients: a network meta-analysis. PLoS Med 2013;10(5):e1001454.

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Authors
Cuijpers, P., Karyotaki, E., Pot, A. M., Park, M., & Reynolds, C. F.
Affiliations
  • Amsterdam Public Health (NL)
  • The University of Queensland (AU)
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
Corresponding author
Cuijpers, Pim
Venue
Maturitas
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-10
Volume
79
Issue
2
Pages
160-169
ISSN
0378-5122 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2144688364
Cited by
192
References
78
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 5
FWCI
2.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Maturitas (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • VU Research Portal (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Digital Academic REpository of VU University Amsterdam (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) (submittedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
  • Multilingual Matters (Channel View Publications) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (P30MH090333, P30 MH90333)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
geriatric depression, older adults, psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, problem-solving therapy, life review therapy, non-directive counseling, treatment effect size, long-term treatment outcomes
MeSH terms
Aged, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Humans, Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Treatment Outcome

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