%O This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
%D 2017
%N 5
%V 211
%A V Orgeta
%A J Brede
%A G Livingston
%J The British Journal of Psychiatry
%L discovery10025809
%P 274-279
%T Behavioural activation for depression in older people: systematic review and meta-analysis
%X BACKGROUND: Behavioural activation is an effective treatment for depression in the general adult population but it is unclear whether it is effective for older people. AIMS: To systematically review randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of behavioural activation for depression in older people. METHOD: We searched Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and online trial registers for RCTs of behavioural activation for depression in older people. RESULTS: Eighteen trials were included in the meta-analyses. Behavioural activation reduced mean depression scores for older people living in the community as a stand-alone treatment: standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.72, 95% CI -1.04 to -0.41. It was also effective as part of a multicomponent intervention (SMD -0.44, 95% CI -0.56 to -0.32). CONCLUSIONS: Behavioural activation significantly reduces depressive symptoms in older people in the community; however, given that most studies are small and with significant bias results should be interpreted with caution. Further high-quality trials of behavioural activation for this age group are needed.
%C England