title: Integrating the health and mental health needs of the chronically ill: a group for individuals with depression and sickle cell disease.
abstract: Concerns about high rates of depression among persons with sickle cell disease and no effective interventions for treatment of this condition were the impetuses for the study described in this paper. A groupwork service using cognitive-behavioral and self-management techniques were integrated into health care services at a Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center to treat depression in a small group of patients. An interdisciplinary team that included health care and mental health providers from the Center and a social work researcher guided the endeavor. Principles of Intervention Research were applied in the development of the service and to evaluate its effectiveness. Among the findings were that study participants realized a decrease in depressive symptoms.
authors.affiliation: University of Connecticut, 1798 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117, USA. comer@uconnvm.uconn.edu
authors.forename: Edna W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Comer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003191:Comprehensive Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012947:Social Work / Q000379:methods*; D015144:Southeastern United States