Citation

Yamamoto J, Chung C, Nukariya K, Ushijima S, Kim JH, Dai Y, Zhang S, Ao M, Cheung F, Chang D, Winn T. Am. J. Forensic Psychiatr. 1997; 18(3): 75-82.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, American College of Forensic Psychiatry, Publisher R. Shlensky)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

Rationale: Early recognition of depression and prompt treatment can reduce the prevalence of severe depression and suicide, but little information about the prevention of depression is known. An educational approach for depression prevention certainly may meet the need of the vulnerable population experiencing mild or subclinical depression. The preventive approach will certainly help them avoid the stigma of psychiatric treatment as well as accomodate economic realities. We studied whether depression can be prevented from proceeding to the severe form for vulnerable individuals, especially the Asian American elderly.

METHOD: Elderly Asian Americans were recruited and divided into two groups; experimental subjects attended psychoeducational class once a week for 8 weeks, while controls were placed in an 8-week waiting period. The educational program was based upon the manual. Depression Prevention Course by Munoz, which emphasizes cognitive behavioral approaches. Each session consisted of 30 minutes of a video educational program and 30 minutes of discussion.

RESULT: After 8 weeks in the educational program, HAM-D scores of the experimental group were significantly lower than the control group.

CONCLUSION: Based upon our study result, the psychoeducational program appears to exert significant preventive effect for subclinically depressed Asian American elderly. It is worth exploring this approach on a larger scale.

Language: en