Anti-Depressant Medication and Depressive Thought Processes Among Older Adults

A consistent body of research suggests that depressive symptoms recur rapidly following termination of pharmacotherapy. The present study hypothesized that this phenomenon is a function of the continued operation of depressive attributional processes. Compared to interventions which directly target depressive cognitions, persons treated solely with medication may relapse sooner as these thought processes remain unaltered. Three groupings of older adults were recruited for the present study. Support was obtained for initial hypotheses as specific negative attributional constructs are elevated among anti-depressant users as compared to control subjects (globality and stability). These results are discussed relative to the hopelessness theory of depression.