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Furthermore, it is unclear whether data can be extrapolated from similar populations (eg, those with late-life depression) to inform pharmacotherapy in this patient group. Given the lack of effectiveness and risk of side effects associated with pharmacological treatments, psychological interventions may offer important therapeutic benefits. There is evidence for the effectiveness of individual psychological therapy, and further research will establish which psychological approach is the most effective. Some studies have shown an improvement in depressive symptoms using structured sleep hygiene programmes, exercise, arts interventions and music therapy. These studies are hampered by small data sets, and the benefits to individuals may not be well captured by standard outcome measures. At present, the best evidence for arts-based approaches is in music therapy. Depression with comorbid dementia responds well to electroconvulsive therapy and this is a useful treatment modality for those with severe or life-threatening depressive symptoms. Alternative neurostimulation techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation are not widely used at present and further research is needed before they can be a more widely used treatment modality.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1136\/ebmental-2019-300113","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2019,9,26]],"date-time":"2019-09-26T20:21:04Z","timestamp":1569529264000},"page":"167-171","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":30,"title":["Treatment for depression comorbid with dementia"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"22","author":[{"given":"Nina","family":"Baruch","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jennifer","family":"Burgess","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK"},{"name":"University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Manjunadh","family":"Pillai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6827-5420","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Charlotte Louise","family":"Allan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK"},{"name":"University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,9,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025082703103247000_22.4.167.1","unstructured":"Prince M , Knapp M , Guerchet M , et al . 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