LAUSR

This summary is based on a Cochrane review (Wilkinson & Izmeth, 2016) that explores ongoing treatments for depression in older people to prevent relapse and recurrence. With population ageing (United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2017), it is important to recognise any idiosyncrasies between depression in older and younger individuals, to provide more personalised nursing care. This review focuses on the continuation and maintenance phase of care, as whilst many older people are treated with antidepressants (Percudani, Barbui, Fortino, & Petrovich, 2005), and the short-term effects of this are thought to be good (Katona & Livingston, 2002), we also need to consider how best to sustain good mental health after clinical recovery. Determinants of depression in later life may vary from younger adults (Aziz & Steffens, 2013); therefore assessing the effectiveness of interventions, which have contrasting mechanisms of action, may warrant differential examination for older adults. When considering treatment options with older adults, the potential adverse effects of medications and pharmaceutical interactions when treating multiple morbidities also requires careful consideration. Antidepressant drugs (particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs), have for example been associated with increased risk of falling, multiple falls, and injurious falls (Kerse et al., 2008). These adverse outcomes are important determinants of health in older people, with associated morbidities compounding the disability experienced with depression (Xu & Rivera Drew, 2018).