Therapy urged for depressed elderly

HEALTH: Elderly people with depression should be given better access to therapy and community activities instead of anti-depressants, experts have said.

Up to 9.3 per cent of over-75s are estimated to have a major depressive disorder, often linked to social isolation.

Researchers at University College London and the University of Bristol found that those aged over 85 were five times less likely to be referred for therapy than those aged 55 to 59.