This review of 21 databases and 11 websites sought evidence, published between January 1993 and February 2007, of the effectiveness or cost-effectiveness of interventions to promote mental well-being in later life.
The review concludes that there is a shortage of robust evidence for the effectiveness and cost – effectiveness of interventions to improve the mental well – being of older people. Better research is needed to estimate the value of most interventions. Research into cost – effectiveness is especially sparse, with little economic research even into programmes with evidence of effectiveness. Nevertheless this review generated six useful positive evidence statements.