Community psychiatric nurses for the elderly: well tolerated, few side-effects and effective in the treatment of depression.

Depression in elderly people is a common yet treatable psychiatric problem. The Gospel Oak depression study researched this much overlooked group and has shown that a community psychiatric nurse (CPN) was able significantly to improve the mental state of depressed elderly people. A multifaceted package of care was co-ordinated and delivered by one CPN over a study period of 3 months. A detailed account is given of those interventions implemented, highlighting those which were of most benefit for the patient. Outcome was assessed independently and it was found that those patients allocated to CPN care improved significantly compared to the non-intervention control group. Ways in which nurses can enhance care given to patients in the community are discussed.