title: Group therapy for depressed elderly women.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Research at Tennessee State University, Nashville 37209, USA. bahusaini@earthlink.net
authors.forename: Baqar A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Husaini
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cummings
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kilbourne
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roback
authors.forename: Darren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sherkat
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: Van A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Cain
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*