ERIC Number: EJ800829
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Jun
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0016-9013
EISSN: N/A
Effectiveness of Problem-Solving Therapy for Older, Primary Care Patients with Depression: Results from the IMPACT Project
Arean, Patricia; Hegel, Mark; Vannoy, Steven; Fan, Ming-Yu; Unuzter, Jurgen
Gerontologist, v48 n3 p311-323 Jun 2008
Purpose: We compared a primary-care-based psychotherapy, that is, problem-solving therapy for primary care (PST-PC), to community-based psychotherapy in treating late-life major depression and dysthymia. Design and Methods: The data here are from the IMPACT study, which compared collaborative care within a primary care clinic to care as usual in the treatment of 1,801 primary care patients, 60 years of age or older, with major depression or dysthymia. This study is a secondary data analysis (n = 433) of participants who received either PST-PC (by means of collaborative care) or community-based psychotherapy (by means of usual care). Results: Older adults who received PST-PC had more depression-free days at both 12 and between 12 and 24 months ([beta] = 47.5, p less than 0.001; [beta] = 47.0, p less than 0.001), and they had fewer depressive symptoms and better functioning at 12 months ([beta][subscript dep] = -0.36, p less than 0.001; [beta][subscript func] = -0.94, p less than 0.001), than those who received community-based psychotherapy. We found no differences at 24 months. Implications: Results suggest that PST-PC as delivered in primary care settings is an effective method for treating late-life depression.
Descriptors: Problem Solving, Patients, Program Effectiveness, Data Analysis, Psychotherapy, Depression (Psychology), Primary Health Care, Community Health Services, Older Adults, Geriatrics, Outcomes of Treatment, Mental Health, Gerontology
Gerontological Society of America. 1030 15th Street NW Suite 250, Washington, DC 20005. Tel: 202-842-1275; Fax: 202-842-1150; e-mail: geron@geron.org; Web site: http://www.geron.org/journals/gsapub.htm
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A