Group Therapy for Depressed Elderly Women

• Published in: International journal of group psychotherapy Vol. 54; no. 3; pp. 295 - 319
• Main Authors: Husaini, Baqar A., Cummings, Sherry, Kilbourne, Barbara, Roback, Howard, Sherkat, Darren, Levine, Robert, Cain, Van A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Routledge 01.07.2004; Guilford; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Depression (Psychology); Depressive Disorder, Major - therapy; Elderly; Elderly women; Female; Females; Grief; Group psychotherapy; Group Therapy; High rise flats; Humans; Medical sciences; Mental depression; Mental Recall; Middle Aged; Older people; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychotherapies. Psychological and clinical counseling; Psychotherapy, Group - methods; Sociodemographic Factors; Tennessee; Treatments; USA; Women; Human; Mood disorder; Negroid; Depression; Group psychotherapy; Treatment; Race; Female; Social aptitude; Therapeutic schedule; Caucasoid; Mourning; Elderly
• ISSN: 0020-7284; 1943-2836
• DOI: 10.1521/ijgp.54.3.295.40340

We describe and evaluate a group therapy program targeting depression among elderly residents (N=303) of subsidized high-rise apartments in Nashville, TN. This eclectic program was comprised of 12 sessions (a total of 24 hours) that included modules on exercise and preventive health behaviors, cognitive and re-motivation therapy, reminiscence and grief therapy, and social skills development. Our multivariate regression analyses of pre-post measures using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) showed that the effects of the group therapy varied by race, age, and level of initial depression among the participants. The program was effective in reducing depression, but only among Caucasian women who reported at least moderate depression prior to the program, and it yielded greater benefits for women between 55 and 75 years of age.