| PROJECT TITLE: | CHRONICALLY ILL ELDERLY |
| FUNDING SOURCE: | NIMH |
| DATES OF FUNDING: | 1985 - 1989 |
| PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S): | Spero Manson, Ph.D. |
| CENTER STAFF INVOLVED: | Spero Manson, Ph.D.; Anna Barón, Ph.D. |
SPECIFIC AIMS/RESEARCH GOALS:
This study had 3 goals:
- to examine physical health problems as a major risk factor for depression among older American Indians;
- to identify mediating factors such as social support, cognitive-behavioral coping strategies, and various personality factors; and
- to deliver as well as evaluate a preventive intervention intended to reduce the risk of psychological dysfunction due to these physical health problems.
RESEARCH DESIGN:
- Two surveys were administered 18 months apart to 314 participants;
- weekly reports and surveys completed by the people participating in the preventive intervention; and
- a third and fourth survey administered to the people in the intervention
and a matched sample from the 314 study participants
PARTICIPANTS:
The study sample was composed of 314 American Indians from the their tribal reservations. This sample was identified through the Indian Health Service (IHS) Clinics on the basis of age (>45) and the primary diagnosis of a chronic physical health problem (diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, coronary heart disease).
MEASURES:
- Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).
- Sociodemographics.
- Social desirability.
- Subjective health status.
- Aspects of daily life affected by health problems.
- Health locus of control scale.
- Health care utilization and satisfaction.
- Life satisfaction.
- Social support.
- Coping strategies.
- Inventory to Diagnose Depression (IDD).
- Alcohol use.
PUBLICATIONS:
Barón, A.E., Manson, S.M., Ackerson, L.M., & Brenneman, D.L. (1990). Depressive symptomatology in older American Indians with chronic disease: Some psychometric considerations. In, C. Attkinsson & J. Zitch (Eds.), Screening for depression in primary care setting. New York, NY: Pergamon Press.
Manson, S. M. (1995). Culture and major depression: Current challenges in the diagnosis of mood disorders. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 18(3), 487-501.
Manson, S. M., & Brenneman, D. L. (1995). Chronic disease among older American Indians: Preventing depression and related problems of coping. In D. K. Padgett (Ed.), Handbook on ethnicity, aging, and mental health (pp. 284-303). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
