Depression Treatment Modalities

Paper Summary:

This study proposes to study the impact of personality traits on the treatment of depression among the elderly. It analyzes the results through the examination of NEO-Five-Factor-Inventory scores in comparison to improvements of Beck Depression Inventory scores between baseline and outcome measures in three experimental treatment conditions (antidepressants, psychotherapy and combination therapy). The study hypothesizes that combination therapy is significantly more effective than the other treatment conditions in the reduction of depressive symptoms and that personality traits are significantly associated with treatment outcomes.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Method
Results
Discussion

From the Paper:

"Research has determined that forms of psychosocial intervention, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), behavioral therapy, cognitive bibliotherapy, reminiscence group therapy, and problem-solving group therapy, may be effective treatment interventions for geriatric depression. A combination of psychotherapy and antidepressant medication might be an appropriate treatment for individuals presenting with moderate to severe depression. A study by Thompson, Coon, Gallagher-Thompson, Sommer & Koin (2001) examined the efficacy of a specific antidepressant medication (Desipramine), a specific psychotherapy (CBT), and a combination approach, (CBT and Desipramine), in the treatment of depression among the elderly. The results indicated that, although patients in all three treatment conditions experienced substantial improvement in their depressive symptoms, the patients receiving the combination treatment and those receiving CBT alone showed greater improvements than those patients that only received Desipramine. Therefore, the researchers concluded that CBT is an effective treatment for depression in older adults, and that the combination of pharmacotherapy and CBT may be of particular usefulness among patients who do not effectively respond to either antidepressants or psychotherapy alone."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Burvill, P., Hall,W., Stampfer, H., Emmerson, P. (a99a). The prognosis of depression in old age. British Journal of Psychiatry, 158, 64-71.
• Coyne, J. (1998). Persistently poor outcomes of undetected major depression in primary care. General Hospital Psychiatry, 20, 12-20.
• Greenburg, P., Stiglin, L., Finkelstein, S., Berndt, E. (1993). The economic burden of depression in 1990. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 54, 405-18.
• Hirschfeld, R., Shea, M. (1992). Personality. In E.S. Paykel (Ed.), Handbook of Effective disorders. New York: Guilford.
• Jones, R. Badger, L., Ficken, R. Leeper, J., Anderson, R. (1987). Inside the hidden mental health network: examining mental health care delivery of primary care physicians. General Hospital Psychiatry, 19, 287-93.

More papers on Depression Treatment Modalities:

• Essay # 85263 : "Bipolar Disorders"
• Research Paper # 56182 : "Fibromyalgia and Managing Symptoms"
• Essay # 50213 : "Drug Abuse and Rehabilitation"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: