Problem solving therapy group in patients with depressive symptoms and suicidal risk

บทคัดย่อ

Objective The purpose of this study was evaluate the effectiveness of problem solving therapy (PST) on depressive and suicidal risk patients.  
Materials and methods This study was a randomized control - group pretest and posttest design. The sample were in-patients of Khon-Kaen psychiatric hospital who had psychiatric disorder with
depressive symptoms and suicidal risk, age ranged from 20 to 60 years. Randomized sampling technique was used and divided into two groups (experimental group = 20, control group = 19). Data collected during April-December 2012. The experimental group was treated with problem solving therapy (PST). The control group was treated with supportive psychotherapy (SP). The problem solving inventory (PSI), Thai Depression inventory (TDI) and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview part C (M.I.N.I-suicidality) were used evaluation for both group. Data was analyzed by using descriptive statistic, Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test and multivariate analysis. 
Results The PST group had a significantly greater increasing score in problem solving skills and decreasing severity level of depressive symptoms than those in the SP group. The PST group was decreasing severity level of suicidal risks and no readmission after 6 months follow up, while readmis-sion rate of SP group was 15.8 percent. 
Conclusion PST group was an effectiveness therapy for patients with depressive symptoms and suicidal risk. Patients can apply the problem solving skills by themselves daily. However, long term monitoring for the effectiveness stability should be done for further study.