What is the effectiveness of old-age mental health services?

This is a Health Evidence Network (HEN) synthesis report on the effectiveness of old-age mental health services. The European Region had 15% of its population 65 years old or older and nearly 7% 75 or over in 2000, the world’s highest percentages. By 2030 these figures will increase to 24% and 12% respectively. The effect on health care will be amplified by a disproportionate increase in dementia, and depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, substance abuse disorders and delirium are also of major concern. Therefore effective services to treat mental illness in older people will become an ever-increasing imperative. The report states that overall, the strongest evidence supports the development of community multidisciplinary teams as a major service-delivery component, and this should be encouraged in all European countries, as should partnerships with consumers, non-governmental organizations, primary care providers, social services, long-term residential care providers and other medical services. HEN, initiated and coordinated by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, is an information service for public health and health care decision-makers in the WHO European Region. Other interested parties might also benefit from HEN. This HEN evidence report is a commissioned work and the contents are the responsibility of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the official policies of WHO/Europe. The reports were subjected to international review, managed by the HEN team. When referencing this report, please use the following attribution: Draper B, Low L (2004) What is the effectiveness of old-age mental health services? Copenhagen, WHO Regional Office for Europe (Health Evidence Network report; http://www.euro.who.int/document/E83685.pdf, accessed 23 July 2004).