Depressive Symptoms and Reduced Preventive Care Use in Older Adults

Abstract

Depressive symptomatology may negatively alter older adults' perceptions of access and, in turn, negatively impact their preventive service use. In addition to treating depression, interventions designed to mitigate the impact of depression on the patient-provider relationship, and organizational changes to practice that better accommodate the needs of depressed patients, may increase adherence to preventive care guidelines in depressed older adults.