Problem-Solving Therapy

Older people are often at risk for developing depression because of the number of life changes, such as disability, loss, daily stresses, and managing chronic illnesses and living on a fixed income. However, very few older people develop clinical levels of depression (Kessler et al.). According to the problem-solving model, the deciding factor in who becomes depressed and who does not is whether or not the person facing so many life changes has the ability to solve problems effectively and believes that problems are solvable. Some studies have shown that older people with active problem-solving skills (seeking information, asserting oneself) are less inclined to become depressed than older people who engage in passive problem-solving (praying, waiting for someone to offer help). These data support the notion that Nezu et al. propose: if you teach someone how to actively solve problems, that person will become more able to negotiate his or her environment and hence will be less likely to become depressed.