Journal of International Psychiatry

[Abstract] Objective To explore the analysis of the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral and psychological support therapy as an adjunctive treatment for elderly patients with depression. Methods The subjects of this study were 92 elderly patients with depression from August 2021-January 2023. Simple randomization method was used to divide the group into control and observation groups. The control group was treated with escitalopram, and the observation group was given cognitive-behavioral and psychological support treatment based on the treatment in the control group, both treated for 8 weeks. The Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Inventory [(HAMA), (HAMD)] was used to assess patients anxiety and depression before and after treatment. The health status questionnaire (SF-36) was used to assess quality of life before and after treatment. Results HAMA scores and HAMD scores were significantly lower in both groups after treatment than before treatment, and both scores were lower in the observation group than in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). The SF-36 scale scores were higher in both groups than before treatment, and the emotional functioning, mental health, social functioning, vitality, and general health scores were higher in the observation group than in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). The differences in physical function, somatic pain, and physical function scores were not significant between the two groups after treatment (P>0.05). Conclusion Cognitive-behavioral and psychological support treatments have significant adjunctive therapeutic effects on elderly patients with depression, reducing negative mood and improving quality of life such as emotional and social functioning.

Key words Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy; Psychological Support Therapy; Geriatric Depression; Anxiety; Depression; Quality Of Life