Group Cognitive Therapy and Alprazolam in the Treatment of Depression in Older Adults

Larry E. Beutler; Forrest Scogin; Patricia Kirkish; David Schretlen; Anne Corbishley; David Hamblin; Keith Meredith; Rebecca Potter; Colin R. Bamford; Alan I. Levenson

doi:10.1037/0022-006X.55.4.550

Group Cognitive Therapy and Alprazolam in the Treatment of Depression in Older Adults

Larry E. Beutler, Forrest Scogin, Patricia Kirkish, David Schretlen, Anne Corbishley, David Hamblin, Keith Meredith, Rebecca Potter, Colin R. Bamford, Alan I. Levenson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

126 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study was designed to explore the relative and combined effectiveness of alprazolam (Xanax) and group cognitive therapy among elderly adults experiencing major affective disorder. Fifty-six subjects with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III;American Psychiatric Association, 1980) diagnoses of major, unipolar depression were treated over a 20-week period in one of four groups: alprazolam support, placebo support, cognitive therapy plus placebo support, and cognitive therapy plus alprazolam support. The results revealed that individuals assigned to group cognitive therapy showed consistent improvement in subjective state and sleep efficiency relative to non-group-therapy subjects. No differences between alprazolam and placebo were noted, regardless of whether individuals received group cognitive therapy. Subjects assigned to group cognitive therapy were less likely than their counterparts to prematurely terminate treatment.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	550-556
Number of pages	7
Journal	Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
Volume	55
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.55.4.550
State	Published - Aug 1987
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Clinical Psychology
Psychiatry and Mental health

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10.1037/0022-006X.55.4.550

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title = "Group Cognitive Therapy and Alprazolam in the Treatment of Depression in Older Adults",

abstract = "This study was designed to explore the relative and combined effectiveness of alprazolam (Xanax) and group cognitive therapy among elderly adults experiencing major affective disorder. Fifty-six subjects with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III;American Psychiatric Association, 1980) diagnoses of major, unipolar depression were treated over a 20-week period in one of four groups: alprazolam support, placebo support, cognitive therapy plus placebo support, and cognitive therapy plus alprazolam support. The results revealed that individuals assigned to group cognitive therapy showed consistent improvement in subjective state and sleep efficiency relative to non-group-therapy subjects. No differences between alprazolam and placebo were noted, regardless of whether individuals received group cognitive therapy. Subjects assigned to group cognitive therapy were less likely than their counterparts to prematurely terminate treatment.",

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AU - Beutler, Larry E.

AU - Scogin, Forrest

AU - Kirkish, Patricia

AU - Schretlen, David

AU - Corbishley, Anne

AU - Hamblin, David

AU - Meredith, Keith

AU - Potter, Rebecca

AU - Bamford, Colin R.

AU - Levenson, Alan I.

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AB - This study was designed to explore the relative and combined effectiveness of alprazolam (Xanax) and group cognitive therapy among elderly adults experiencing major affective disorder. Fifty-six subjects with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III;American Psychiatric Association, 1980) diagnoses of major, unipolar depression were treated over a 20-week period in one of four groups: alprazolam support, placebo support, cognitive therapy plus placebo support, and cognitive therapy plus alprazolam support. The results revealed that individuals assigned to group cognitive therapy showed consistent improvement in subjective state and sleep efficiency relative to non-group-therapy subjects. No differences between alprazolam and placebo were noted, regardless of whether individuals received group cognitive therapy. Subjects assigned to group cognitive therapy were less likely than their counterparts to prematurely terminate treatment.

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Group Cognitive Therapy and Alprazolam in the Treatment of Depression in Older Adults

Abstract

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