Complementary and alternative treatments for late-life depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance: a review of randomized controlled trials.
Title | Complementary and alternative treatments for late-life depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance: a review of randomized controlled trials. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2007 |
Authors | Meeks TW, Wetherell JL, Irwin MR, Redwine LS, Jeste DV |
Journal | J Clin Psychiatry |
Volume | 68 |
Issue | 10 |
Pagination | 1461-71 |
Date Published | 2007 Oct |
ISSN | 1555-2101 |
Keywords | Anxiety Disorders, Complementary Therapies, Depressive Disorder, Major, Humans, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Sleep Wake Disorders |
Abstract | OBJECTIVE: We reviewed randomized controlled trials of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments for depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance in nondemented older adults. DATA SOURCES: We searched PubMed (1966-September 2006) and PsycINFO (1984-September 2006) databases using combinations of terms including depression, anxiety, and sleep; older adult/elderly; randomized controlled trial; and a list of 56 terms related to CAM. STUDY SELECTION: Of the 855 studies identified by database searches, 29 met our inclusion criteria: sample size >or= 30, treatment duration >or= 2 weeks, and publication in English. Four additional articles from manual bibliography searches met inclusion criteria, totaling 33 studies. DATA EXTRACTION: We reviewed identified articles for methodological quality using a modified Scale for Assessing Scientific Quality of Investigations (SASQI). We categorized a study as positive if the CAM therapy proved significantly more effective than an inactive control (or as effective as active control) on at least 1 primary psychological outcome. Positive and negative studies were compared on the following characteristics: CAM treatment category, symptom(s) assessed, country where the study was conducted, sample size, treatment duration, and mean sample age. DATA SYNTHESIS: 67% of the 33 studies reviewed were positive. Positive studies had lower SASQI scores for methodology than negative studies. Mind-body and body-based therapies had somewhat higher rates of positive results than energy- or biologically-based therapies. CONCLUSIONS: Most studies had substantial methodological limitations. A few well-conducted studies suggested therapeutic potential for certain CAM interventions in older adults (e.g., mind-body interventions for sleep disturbances and acupressure for sleep and anxiety). More rigorous research is needed, and suggestions for future research are summarized. |
Alternate Journal | J Clin Psychiatry |
PubMed ID | 17960959 |
Grant List | MH019934 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States MH66248 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States |