Background: Late-onset depression with vascular brain lesions is showing increased resistance to antidepressive pharmacotherapy.
Aim: To give an overview of alternative treatment options.
Method: We conducted a literature search via PubMed using the key words: 'late-onset depression', 'white matter lesions', 'cerebrovascular pathology' and 'treatment' and thereby a searchfor all available clinical studies about the treatment described in combination with the key words 'vascular depression', or 'late-onset depression' and 'white matter lesions'.
Results: Electroconvulsive therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and nimodipine au,gmentation have beneficial effects on vascular depression.
Conclusion: The treatment options mentioned are promising, but there is a need for further clinical studies.