These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Problem-solving therapy for late-life depression in home care: a randomized field trial.
    Author: Gellis ZD, McGinty J, Horowitz A, Bruce ML, Misener E.
    Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry; 2007 Nov; 15(11):968-78. PubMed ID: 17846101.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: The authors present data from a pilot research program initiated to develop, refine, and test the outcomes of Brief Problem-Solving Therapy in Home Care (PST-HC) that targets the needs of older adults identified with severe depressive symptoms in an acute home care setting. METHODS: A pilot randomized clinical trial compared the impact of PST-HC to usual care (UC) in a sample of older medically ill home care patients identified with severe depressive symptoms. Forty patients were randomly assigned to either six weekly sessions of PST-HC in their home or standard home care services. Depression, quality of life, and problem-solving ability were measured at baseline, posttreatment, three-month follow-up, and six-month follow-up by blinded evaluators. RESULTS: All 40 patients provided follow-up data. No differences between the two groups were found on any demographic variables. Outcome data suggested significant improvements in depression scores over time after PST-HC, relative to UC. PST-HC patients reported higher quality of life and problem-solving ability scores relative to UC. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that PST-HC is well tolerated and holds promise for reducing persistent depressive symptoms. The authors discuss limitations in terms of the "real-world" applicability of this psychosocial treatment for late-life depression.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]