Objective: To review the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions in older adults with depression or anxiety and comorbidities affecting functioning.
Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, including searches of 10 databases (inception-Jul 2017).
Setting: Home/community.
Participants: People aged 60 and over experiencing functional difficulties from physical or cognitive comorbidities and have symptoms or a diagnosis of depression and/or anxiety.
Interventions: Non-pharmacological interventions targeted at depression/anxiety.
Measurements: We extracted outcome data on depressive symptoms, quality of life, functioning, and service use. We used random effects meta-analysis to pool study data where possible. Two authors assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool.
Results: We identified 14 eligible trials including 2099 randomized participants and two subgroup analyses. Problem-solving therapy (PST) reduced short-term clinician-rated depressive symptoms (n = 5 trials, mean difference in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score -4.94 [95% CI -7.90 to -1.98]) but not remission, with limited evidence for effects on functioning and quality of life. There was limited high-quality evidence for other intervention types. Collaborative care did not appear to affect depressive symptoms, functioning, or quality of life; and had mixed evidence for effects upon remission. No intervention consistently affected service use, but trials were limited by small sample sizes and short follow-up periods. No anxiety interventions were identified.
Conclusion: PST may reduce depressive symptoms post-intervention in older people with depression and functional impairments. Collaborative care appears to have few effects in this population. Future research needs to assess cost-effectiveness, long-term outcomes, and anxiety interventions for this population.
Keywords: anxiety; depression; disability; medical comorbidity; meta-analysis.