Psychotherapy
Psychotherapies are effective treatments for latelife depression and may be considered as first-line therapy, depending on availability and patient preference. Standardized psychotherapeutic approaches include a short-term treatment phase, consisting of weekly visits over a period of 8 to 12 weeks. Some persons may require a longer period of treatment or may require less frequent sessions after short-term treatment. Although other
therapies may also be effective, the evidence base for short-term treatment is strongest for cognitive behavioral therapy and problem-solving therapy. However, generalizability is a concern because most studies of psychotherapy for late-life depression have involved cognitively intact, well-educated, white, and relatively young geriatric populations.