Group behavioral therapy with depressed geriatric inpatients: An assessment of incremental efficacy

Abstract

Fifty-three clinically depressed geriatric inpatients assigned either to behavioral group therapy plus standard hospital treatment (n=27) or a standard hospital treatment comparison group (n=26) were assessed two weeks apart at pretest and posttest using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), and the Depression Scale of the Nurses' Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation (NOSIE-D). Patients in both groups received standard hospital programs (including pharmacotherapy); but, in addition, the experimental group participated in eight 90-minute sessions of behavioral group therapy. Both groups improved on BDI scores and HRSD ratings, but MANOVAs did not support the statistical incremental efficacy of behavioral group therapy. However, a greater percentage of patients in behavioral group therapy were exhibiting normal BDI scores and HRSD ratings at posttest. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.