Early Intervention to Preempt Major Depression Among Older Black and White Adults

A randomized trial found that older adults with subsyndromal depression who received problem-solving therapy for primary care (PST-PC) avoided developing major depression for two years. But in an unexpected finding, so did a comparison group of patients who received only dietary counseling. Even though dietary counseling did not address depression per se, the authors speculated that it provided some of the same active features as PST-PC, including homework assignments and monitoring of adherence. Both interventions are suitable for delivery by lay health counselors, making use in primary care settings easier.