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. 2016 Jun;46(3):323-36.
doi: 10.1111/sltb.12195. Epub 2015 Oct 12.

Effect of Problem-Solving Therapy on Depressed Low-Income Homebound Older Adults' Death/Suicidal Ideation and Hopelessness

Namkee G Choi  1 , C Nathan Marti  1 , Yeates Conwell  2
Affiliations

Effect of Problem-Solving Therapy on Depressed Low-Income Homebound Older Adults' Death/Suicidal Ideation and Hopelessness

Namkee G Choi et al. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2016 Jun.

Abstract

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

None declared.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Ideation Ratings by Treatment Group
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Hopelessness Scores by Treatment Group
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Mediation Effect of Hopelessness: Latent Growth Curve Model
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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