A new study found that “horticulture therapy” had an effect size nearly seven times better than “usual care” at reducing depression in older adults in long-term care (LTC) settings. The second-best treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), had an effect size twice as good as usual care. On the other hand, treatment with antidepressant drugs led to worse outcomes than usual care.
The most effective treatments (in order of efficacy) were gardening, CBT, animal therapy, group reminiscence, multicomponent, exercise, and socialization interventions.
The least effective treatments—all worse than usual care—were discontinuing antidepressants to initiate placebo, placebo, pain management, and antidepressant drugs.
“Many nonpharmacologic treatments for depression in residents of LTC have been studied and are found to be efficacious,” the researchers write. They add, “The low-risk and cost-effective nature of many of the nonpharmacologic interventions makes them ideal for use in LTC.”
The research, a systematic review and network meta-analysis, was led by Canadian researchers Kayla Atchison at the University of Calgary and Peter M. Hoang at the University of Toronto. It was published in The Journal of the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association (JAMDA).
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