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Problem solving therapy for the depression-executive dysfunction syndrome of late life
- Authors:
- ALEXOPOULOS George S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 23(8), August 2008, pp.782-788.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The depression executive dysfunction syndrome afflicts a considerable number of depressed elderly patients and may be resistant to conventional pharmacotherapy. Non-pharmacological approaches addressing their behavioural deficits may reduce disability and experienced stress and improve depression. This paper focuses on problem solving therapy (PST) because it targets concrete problems that can be understood by patients with executive dysfunction and trains patients to address them using an easy to comprehend structured approach. It is suggested that PST is a suitable treatment for patients with the depression-executive dysfunction syndrome because it has been found effective in uncomplicated geriatric major depression and in other psychiatric disorders accompanied by severe executive dysfunction. Furthermore, PST can address specific clinical features of depressed patients with executive dysfunction, especially when modified to address difficulties with affect regulation, initiation and perseveration.