Shared decision-making in the primary care treatment of late-life major depression: a needed new intervention?

Objective We suggest that clinicians consider models of shared decision-making (SDM) for their potential ability to improve the treatment of major depression in the primary care setting and overcome limitations of collaborative care and other interventions. Methods We explore the characteristics and techniques of patient–clinician SDM, with particular emphasis on this model's relevance to the unique treatment concerns of depressed older adults. Results We describe a SDM intervention to engage older adults in depression treatment in the primary care sector. Conclusions It is timely to examine SDM models for elderly depressed primary care patients given their potential ability to improve treatment adherence and clinical outcomes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.