Журнал депрессии и тревоги
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Attitudes toward Seeking Treatment for Depression among Community Dwelling Elders in a Western City in the United States

Frances Wilby MSW and Amanda Barusch

Background: A fraction of older adults who experience depression seek professional treatment. We know a good deal about the adverse consequences of untreated depression, but considerably less about attitudes toward treatment as they are perceived by the elders themselves.

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine attitudes towards professional treatment from the perspectives of older adults living in the community with clinically significant depressive symptoms as measured by the CES-D.

Method: Twenty five respondents from a random sample of 91 reported significant levels of depressive symptomatology. Among the 25, only eight indicated that they would seek treatment. The remaining 17 participants were asked to delineate their reasons for not seeking treatment.

Results: Their responses suggest that belief in the efficacy of treatment and self-identification of depression are necessary, but not sufficient, to establish willingness to seek treatment. Additionally, results suggest that the foremost barrier to treatment for older adults with depressive symptoms may be their own attitudes; their ideas, values, and feelings.