%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