Evaluation of an intervention of cognitive-relational group psychotherapy with institutionalized older adults

Journal title QUADERNI DI PSICOTERAPIA COGNITIVA
Author/s Annalisa Lafronza, Marco Bani, Roberta Ballabio, Edoardo Spoliedro, Lorena Curia, Andrea Moioli, Elena Rizzi, Giada Rezzonico, Francesca Noli, Lorinda Fasana, Simona Abbondanza, Chiara Gavinelli, Valentina Picarreta, Alessandra Massironi, Barbara Poletti
Publishing Year 2015 Issue 2015/37
Language Italian Pages 12 P. 77-88 File size 118 KB
DOI 10.3280/QPC2015-037005
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Depression in institutionalized older adults is a critical topic in literature, given the impact of this problem on general medical conditions and the relational difficulties with these kind of patients. The present paper discusses a six-months cognitive-relational group psychotherapy intervention that includes, alongside the more traditional cognitive interventions on thoughts and feelings, a narrative intervention, focusing mainly on the relational dimension emerging from the discussion of themes which are crucial in the work with older adults, such as the concepts of loss, dependency and relationship with own body. 34 patients have been enrolled, with MMSE score > 22 and GDS score > 6; 18 of them completed the treatment based on group psychotherapy and were assessed according to depression levels (GDS) and assertiveness (SIB) at baseline, one month, 3 months and at the end of the intervention. Results have shown a significant reduction in GDS and SIB-discomfort scores and an improvement in relational abilities and assertiveness. These preliminary results suggest that cognitive-relational group psychotherapy represents both an effective intervention in the treatment of depression and an improvement of relational abilities that might be well implemented in residential institutions.

Keywords: Depression, group psychotherapy, cognitive-relational therapy, older adults

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Annalisa Lafronza, Marco Bani, Roberta Ballabio, Edoardo Spoliedro, Lorena Curia, Andrea Moioli, Elena Rizzi, Giada Rezzonico, Francesca Noli, Lorinda Fasana, Simona Abbondanza, Chiara Gavinelli, Valentina Picarreta, Alessandra Massironi, Barbara Poletti, Valutazione di un intervento di psicoterapia di gruppo cognitivo-relazionale per anziani istituzionalizzati in "QUADERNI DI PSICOTERAPIA COGNITIVA" 37/2015, pp 77-88, DOI: 10.3280/QPC2015-037005