A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Reducing the Level of Depression among Geriatric People in Vellore District

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to bring out a reducing the level of depression through administration of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy among geriatric people. An evaluative approach was used in the present study to test the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in reducing the level of depression. The independent variable of the study was Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the dependent variable of the study was depression. Modified Ludwing Bertalanffy General System theory was used as a base of this study. Assessed the level of depression by pre test among Geriatric people as input, through process of administration of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which may result in favorable outcome. It is assumed that if the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is effective a positive outcome would be seen by post test. A pre experimental one group pretest posttest design was adapted for this study. 300 geriatric people had met the selection criteria who were participated in this study. The tool used for the data collection had two sections; section -I selected demographic variable and section -II the standardized tool T. L .Brink Geriatric Depression Scale was used. The development of tool and validation had been done based on the stated problem, purpose and objectives of the study. The data were collected from September 2012 to September 2013. The researcher obtained written permission from the Chairman of Town Panchayat, under all village presidents, to conduct the study in selected 8 villages. The rural area was selected by simple random sampling technique. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy reducing the level of depression among Geriatric people 2. The study proved that the role of non pharmacological method of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy was effective in the management of depression. 3. The demographic factor such as Age in years and income of the children had association with level of depression. Rest of all variables had no association with level of depression among geriatric people.