ABSTRACT
Research shows that elderly patients are fully capable of benefiting from psychotherapy, and often prefer this non-pharmacological treatment option. Further, there is consensus among geriatric clinicians and researchers that a group format for psychotherapy is likely especially helpful for the elderly. In this paper, we describe a unique group therapy program for elderly patients referred to a community outpatient setting for depression and/or anxiety. This integrated group therapy program, unlike existing programs, combines a more structured cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) with a more process-oriented interpersonal therapy (IPT), specifically targeting the coexistence of depression and anxiety in the elderly. We present two cases of prototypical patients benefiting from the program, and also provide preliminary empirical support for the effectiveness of this group program.
Subject(s)
Aging/psychology , Anxiety Disorders/psychology , Anxiety Disorders/therapy , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy/methods , Depressive Disorder/psychology , Depressive Disorder/therapy , Models, Psychological , Psychotherapeutic Processes , Psychotherapy, Group/methods , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Ambulatory Care , Anxiety Disorders/diagnosis , Combined Modality Therapy , Depressive Disorder/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Interpersonal Relations , Male , Middle Aged , Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care , Patient Satisfaction , Psychotherapy, Multiple , Retirement , Somatoform Disorders/diagnosis , Somatoform Disorders/psychology , Somatoform Disorders/therapyABSTRACT
This pilot study is a preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral outpatient group treatment (CBT) protocol for adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Seven adolescents were treated in a 10-session group CBT program with weekly 2-hour sessions. The treatment protocol was an adaptation of approaches with established effectiveness and emphasized three main components: externalizing the OCD by cultivating mindful detachment; exposure and response prevention (ERP); and refocusing on alternative, constructive behaviors following exposure. An occupational therapy component played a significant role in designing creative exposure and refocusing challenges. Self-report measures at pre, post, and 12-month follow-up suggested clinical improvements for 5 of the 7 patients, thus partially supporting a group treatment format for adolescents with mild to moderate OCD.
