Efficacy of a Social Problem-Solving Therapy Approach for Unipolar Depression

Abstract

Twenty-six individuals who were diagnosed as experiencing nonpsychotic, unipolar depression according to Research Diagnostic Criteria, participated in one of three conditions: problem-solving therapy (PST; n = 11); problem-focused therapy (PFT; n = 9); and wait-list control (WLC; n = 6). The PST group was based on a systematic model of social problem solving, whereas the PFT condition can be conceptualized as a legitimate group therapy regimen. Treatment was conducted over eight 1.5- to 2-hour weekly sessions. Results of pre-post analyses indicated that PST subjects reported a significant decrease in their depression, which was also found to covary with concurrent increases in problem-solving effectiveness and the adoption of an internal locus of control orientation. Further, this improvement was found to be maintained at a 6-month follow-up assessment. Moreover, PST subjects reported significantly lower posttreatment depression scores than either the PFT or the WLC groups. Additional analyses indicated these changes to be clinically meaningful. © 1986 American Psychological Association.