ABSTRACTS FOR INTERNATIONAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL SCIENCES CONFERENCE 2019
IHMSC 2019. Accelerating Innovations in Translational and Precision Medicine. Held at Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, 8-9th March, 2019
Introduction: Depression is becoming increasingly prevalent as a mental health disorder worldwide. The prevalence of clinical depression is between about five and fifteen percent globally. Clinical depression has also increased in prevalence among the ageing. Some of the etiological factors associated with depression in the ageing include grief and loss, and role transitions. Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), an evidenced based psychotherapy for clinical depression, has been proven to be effective for depression in the ageing. IPT addresses four main problem areas, namely - interpersonal disputes, grief and loss, role transitions and interpersonal sensitivity. The adaptation of IPT for the ageing is IPT for late-life depression or IPT – LLM which was utilized to treat the patient discussed in this case study. Methods: The patient was treated with 12 sessions of psychotherapy which is often the minimum number of sessions required in the treatment of depression with IPT. The initial sessions included the development of an Interpersonal Formulation and Interpersonal Inventory. Her problem areas were grief as her husband had passed away recently, and role transitions. The problem areas were addressed during the 8 middle IPT sessions. The final two sessions were utilized to conclude IPT treatment. Results: The patient was assessed to have a PHQ – 9 (Patient Health Questionnaire--9) score of 17 before treatment with IPT, indicating moderate depression. Her PHQ – 9 score after 12 sessions of IPT was 4 indicating minimal depression. Conclusion: This case study highlights that some of the factors that contribute to depression in the ageing are grief and role transitions, and that IPT is efficacious in the treatment of depression in the ageing.