The purpose of the study was to assess whether depressed geriatric patients would respond to group psychotherapy and, if so, would they respond differently to cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic group psychotherapy. Thirty-three persons entered the study and 20 completed the 9-month course of treatment. Patients in both types of groups showed statistically and clinically significant reductions on observer-rated measures of depression and anxiety, as well as on self-report measures of depression. There were no clinically significant differences, but a statistically significant difference between the types of groups was found for the Beck Depression Inventory and this favored the cognitive-behavioral treatment. Limitations on interpretation of these results because of the lack of a control condition are discussed. Approximately 7% to 11% of the American population age 65 and older suffer from depression (Gurland, 1976), making the treatment of depression in the elderly an important concern of both research and practice. Yet, few psychologists (Dorken & Webb, 1979) or psychiatrists (Marmor, 1975) in private practice see elderly patients, and the preferred mode of treatment for this age group appears to be pharmacological (Ford & Sbordone, 1980). However, the use of antidepressants may be contraindicated for a large number of el

When controlling for other covariates, social isolation, physical health and mental health were significant risk factors for re-hospitalization. These findings underline the importance of assessing and addressing lack of social support, along with other factors, in the health care of older male veterans.

Greater participation of ethnically diverse participants in clinical trials for AD would generate additional information on possible differences in metabolism, treatment response, adverse events to therapeutic agents, and could foster the investigation of genetic variability among ethnic groups.

A survey of the literature of the past 50 years reveals remarkable consistency in the accumulated data relating mental functioning to genetic potentials. Intragroup resemblance in intellectual abilities increases in proportion to the degree genetic relationship.