Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Controlled clinical trials, both randomised and non-randomised, were considered.
Specific interventions included in the review
The pharmacological treatments included the use of heterocyclic drugs, antianxiety drugs and other drug treatment. The heterocyclic drugs studied included desipramine, amitriptyline, mianserin, imipramine, nortriptyline, and doxepin. The antianxiety drugs included alprazolam and buspirone. Other drug treatments included fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, moclobemide, nomifensine, trazodone, bupropion, phenelzine and sulpiride.
The psychological treatments included rational therapies such as cognitive or behavioural therapy, and emotive therapies such as psychodynamic therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy.
Participants included in the review
Patients meeting criteria for depression, using an accepted diagnostic system or cut-off point on a depression symptom scale, who were aged at least 55 years. Studies were also included if at least 20% of the participants were aged at least 60 years, and the results were reported separately for this subgroup.
Outcomes assessed in the review
The effectiveness of the treatment had to be assessed on an accepted outcome measure of depression, such as the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
Each article identified in the search was screened by one reviewer to determine if it met the inclusion criteria. Each article meeting the criteria was reviewed by at least two reviewers.