The authors suggest that insufficient risk adjustment of outcomes measures can lead to an inappropriate classification of facilities as poor or high quality. Reynolds, Charles F., et al. Nortriptyline and Interpersonal Psychotherapy as Maintenance Therapies for Recurrent Major Depression. At least one in six elderly individuals is affected by depression. This number increases for residents of hospitals and nursing facilities.
Depression contributes to disability, medical illness, and health care costs.
As the population ages, and the over-85 cohort increases exponentially, the incidence of depression will increase. Depression is not a natural consequence of aging and can be treated effectively. Treatment is also necessary to prevent a recurrence. This article studies the effectiveness of maintenance psychotherapy and a combined treatment of psychotherapy and medication in treating depression in the elderly and preventing recurrence. Ryden, Muriel B., et al.