The effectiveness of assertive training with elderly psychiatric outpatients

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Behavioral Therapy

Background:

• Elderly psychiatric outpatients are often undertreated, deemed "untreatable."
• Assertive training, successful in younger populations, has potential for geriatric application.
• This study evaluates assertive training's efficacy in a community geriatric setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the usefulness of assertive training for elderly psychiatric outpatients.
• To determine if assertive training enhances assertive behaviors in older adults.
• To explore the applicability of established therapeutic techniques to a geriatric population.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design with 19 participants (aged 50-75) in an assertive training group or a no-treatment control group.
• 14 semi-weekly sessions of assertive training with therapist coaching and feedback.
• Assessment of assertive behaviors via self-report, role play, and staff ratings.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in self-reported assertiveness was observed in the experimental group compared to the control group (t(17) = 2.69; p < .05).
• The experimental group showed significant improvement in assertiveness (t(9) = 2.59; p < .05), while the control group did not.
• Changes in role play and staff ratings did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions:

• Assertive training demonstrates potential effectiveness for improving self-reported assertiveness in elderly psychiatric outpatients.
• Findings suggest that therapeutic interventions developed for younger populations can be adapted for geriatric use.
• Further research is warranted to explore the specificity of assertiveness and its implications for geriatric assertive training programs.