Nonpharmacological or Pharmacological Treatments for Depressive Symptoms in Dementia?

Nonpharmacological and pharmacological strategies can be used to manage depressive symptoms in people with dementia, though few studies have compared these interventions directly. In a systematic review and network meta-analysis, researchers compared pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions with usual care to treat symptoms of depression in people with dementia.

The analysis involved 256 randomized trials comprising 28,483 depressed patients with dementia (most studies had >50% women, with mean participants' age >70). Usual care included appropriate access to healthcare and social support. Most pharmacological interventions were antidepressants or antipsychotics.

In 213 studies, patients did not have diagnoses of major depressive …