PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR DEPRESSION IN OLDER ADULTS WITH A DISABILITY - WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE

Depression is a frequent concomitant of disability in late life. This paper reviews the theoretical and empirical literature on the psychoth erapeutic treatment of depression in older adults with a disability. D ifferent models of psychotherapy, including cognitive and behavioral a pproaches, appear relevant for treating this population. Empirical evi dence suggests that psychotherapy is useful for reducing depressive sy mptoms in the disabled elderly but its effectiveness in treating depre ssion is unclear. Methodological and conceptual explanations of this s ituation are provided. More well-designed outcome studies are needed t o determine the efficacy and long-term benefits of psychotherapy for d epressed older persons with a disability. Evidence also suggests that treated patients demonstrate improved functioning in their activities as a consequence of a reduction in excess disability.