Experience of depression in older adults with and without a physical long-term condition: findings from a qualitative interview study.

We suggest four key implications for future care practices of these patients: (1) not all participants with depression and LTC view their mental and physical health as interconnected; there should be allowances in care plans for separate treatment pathways; (2) key features of depression that affect LTC management are social withdrawal and lack of motivation to self-manage or access healthcare; (3) key features of LTCs that worsen depression are pain, the unpredictability of future health and progressive disability; (4) positive self-management of LTC could improve self-efficacy and therefore mood, and should be encouraged.