Kollaborative und aufsuchende Ansätze in der Behandlung depressiver alter Menschen: Ein Literaturüberblick

BACKGROUND: Due to the demographic development depressive disorders in old age are becoming a central and urgent healthcare challenge.

OBJECTIVES: The article reviews effective approaches towards treatment of depression in the elderly.

METHODS: A literature review of complex interventions improving depression care was carried out.

RESULTS: Robust evidence exists for the use of collaborative care models which incorporate collaboration between mental health and medical providers in the primary care setting (e.g. general practitioners and specialists), regular monitoring, case management, and evidence-based treatment. Staged treatment approaches seem to be appropriate by which initially use treatment strategies of low intensity. For patients with limited mobility, home-based approaches have proven to be particularly practical and effective.

CONCLUSION: Multidisciplinary and multimodal treatment approaches represent an effective and efficient way of healthcare provision for late life depression. In Germany, only few initiatives inspired by successful international models have so far been identified.