Premium
Effect of Problem‐Solving Therapy on Depressed Low‐Income Homebound Older Adults' Death/Suicidal Ideation and Hopelessness
Author(s) -
Choi Namkee G.,
Marti C. Nathan,
Conwell Yeates
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/sltb.12195
Subject(s) - suicidal ideation , depression (economics) , clinical psychology , psychology , ideation , psychiatry , depressive symptoms , telehealth , suicide prevention , medicine , poison control , medical emergency , anxiety , health care , telemedicine , economics , macroeconomics , economic growth , cognitive science
Previous study findings of psychotherapy's effect on suicide prevention have been inconsistent. This study reports the results of secondary analyses of outcome data from a short‐term depression treatment on reducing death/suicidal ideation among 158 low‐income homebound adults aged 50+. The treatment, in‐person or telehealth problem‐solving therapy ( PST ), compared with telephone support call, has been found effective in reducing depressive symptoms and disability among participants. Compared with support call participants, tele‐ PST participants, but not in‐person PST participants, exhibited lower ideation ratings across the follow‐up period. Effect sizes at 36 weeks were 0.31 for tele‐ PST and 0.17 for in‐person PST . Hopelessness mediated the effect of tele‐ PST but not in‐person PST ; however, in‐person PST also alleviated hopelessness, which led to lower ideation. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed.