Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Late-Life Depression

Project Summary:

This manual was developed to provide therapists from varying backgrounds (such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatrically trained nurses, and licensed marriage and family counselors) with a guide for conducting cognitive-behavioral therapy with older adults.  There is a companion manual which our group also developed that is intended to be used by the client as part of treatment and we strongly recommend that they both be used together to supplement one another.

Citation:

Thompson, L., Gallagher-Thompson, D., & Dick, L.P.  (1996).  Cognitive-behavioral therapy for late-life depression:  A therapist’s manual. VA Palo Alto Health Care System and Stanford University, Stanford, CA.

Dick, L.P, Gallagher-Thompson, D., Coon, D.W., Powers, D.V., & Thompson, L.  (1996).  Cognitive-behavioral therapy for late-life depression:  A patient’s manual (to accompany the above-cited therapist’s manual in #6 above).  VA Palo Alto Health Care System and Stanford University, Stanford, CA.

Relevant Publications:

An expanded version of the conceptual model described in these manuals can be found in a recent book on this topic:

Laidlaw, K., Thompson, L.W., Dick-Siskin, L., & Gallagher-Thompson, D. (2003).  Cognitive-behaviour therapy with older people.  Chichester, England: John Wiley & Sons. 

This book presents a new conceptual model for the use of CBT with common presenting problems of later life, such as depressive and anxiety disorders and family caregivi