International Journal of Education and Management Studies

Aliakbar Rahimi ¹, Reza Sattar ¹, Mohammad Javad Rahimi ², Ozra Jahed , Alireza Zolfaghari ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Educational Sciences, Farhangian University, Eghlid, IR
2 Yasuj Science and Research Branch, lslamic Azad University, Yasuj, IR
3 Department of Education, Toysarkan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Toysarkan, IR

Abstract

Anxiety and depression are commonly comorbid in older adults and are associated with worse physical and mental health outcomes and poorer response to psychological and pharmacological treatments. However, little research has examined the effectiveness of psychological programs to treat comorbid anxiety and depression in older adults. Sixty-two community dwelling adults aged over 60 years with comorbid anxiety and depression were randomly allocated to group cognitive behavioral therapy or a waitlist condition and were assessed immediately following and three months after treatment. After controlling for cognitive ability at pre-treatment, cognitive behavior therapy resulted in significantly greater reductions, than waitlist, on symptoms of anxiety and depression based on a semi-structured diagnostic interview rated by clinicians unaware of treatment condition. Significant time by treatment interactions were also found for self-report measures of anxiety and depression and these gains were maintained at the three month follow up period. In contrast no significant differences were found between groups on measures of worry and well-being. In conclusion, group cognitive behavioral therapy is efficacious in reducing comorbid anxiety and depression in geriatric populations and gains maintain for at least three months.

Keywords

Depression, Anxiety, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Group.

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