Treatment of Depression in Older Adults: Evidence-Based Practices

Target audience and instructional level of this course: foundational

There is no known conflict of interest or commercial support related to this CE program.

Course Description

This course is aimed at practitioners who wish to deepen their knowledge of treatment of depression in older adults using evidence-based practices. Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, it is estimated that 5% of adults suffer from the disorder. It is characterized by persistent sadness and a lack of interest or pleasure in previously rewarding or enjoyable activities. It can also disturb sleep and appetite. Tiredness and poor concentration are common, and its effects can be long-lasting or recurrent, thus dramatically affecting a person’s ability to function and live a rewarding life.

This course describes how practitioners seeing older adults can screen for depression, assess and diagnose depression, select an appropriate treatment, deliver care and evaluate outcomes. It also describes how practitioners can participate in implementing evidence-based practices (EBP’s). Treatments that have been labeled as EBP differ from other treatments in that they have been rigorously evaluated by scientists to determine that they reduce the symptoms of depression more than usual care.

Learning Objectives

After completing this training the professional will:

• Identify approaches for screening, assessing, and diagnosing depression in older adults.
• Describe approaches for selecting appropriate treatment for older adults with depression.
• Summarize evidence-based care for older adults with depression.

Pamela Fischer, Ph.D.,
Government Project Officer
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

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