Tai Chi for Geriatric Depression

Tai chi may be beneficial for elderly patients with depression, according to a recent study.

Tai chi is a system of movements and positions aimed at addressing the body and mind as an interconnected system. Believed to have been developed in 12th Century China, tai chi purportedly has both physical and mental benefits.

In a recent study, 112 adults over 60 years-old with major depression were treated with escitalopram, an antidepressant, for about four weeks. Seventy-three of the patients who showed some response to escitalopram treatment maintained daily escitalopram doses and were randomly assigned to one of two additional treatment groups. The first group was assigned to two hours of tai chi chih per week and the second group attended two hours of health education classes per week.

Before treatment and throughout 14 weeks of follow-up, the researchers evaluated each patient for several outcome measures, including depression, anxiety, quality of life and cognition. The researchers found that the patients in the tai chi treatment group were more likely to have reduced depressive symptoms and improvements in cognitive and physical functioning.

The authors concluded that tai chi may be more beneficial for elderly patients with depression than prescriptive treatments alone. Additional research is necessary before conclusions can be made.

For more information about tai chi, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness database.

References

Lavretsky H, Alstein LL, Olmstead RE, et al. Complementary Use of Tai Chi Chih Augments Escitalopram Treatment of Geriatric Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2011 Mar 6. View Abstract
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