Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wyoming, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on July 13, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-76).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [49]-56).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [49]-56).

Recent research in gerontology and geriatrics has identified that one factor repeatedly associated with depression in the elderly is the presence of physical illness. The increasing numbers of elderly persons in the population and their high rate of chronic physical illness make it important to identify critical disease and individual characteristics that play a role in the association of depression and physical illness. In order to investigate and clarify these relationships and concerns, a panel survey of 133 middle aged and elderly persons with recent exacerbations of various physical illnesses was completed. Subjects were referred by medical offices and agencies in the Portland metropolitan area. Two in-depth interviews were completed approximately three months apart. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlational analysis, analysis of variance, multiple regression, and dynamic (change focused) correlational analysis. Results indicated a slight but consistent decrease in level of depression with increasing age. Increased levels of income, social support, religiosity, subjective health, internal locus of control for health, and life expectancy were associated with decreased levels of depression. Conversely, increased levels of pain, physical dependency, progressiveness of the disease, death anxiety, external locus of control for health, and worry about medical resources were associated with increased levels of depression. While the residential setting of urban, suburban, or rural had a significant effect on income and a slight effect on size of support system, it had no significant impact on level of depression. The four best predictors of level of depression at Time 1 were subjective health, pain, death anxiety, and income. Analysis of change over time revealed moderate stability in levels of depression. The best predictor of level of depression at Time 2 was level at Time 1. Only change in pain added significantly to the prediction of depression at Time 2. The results of this study will help to identify physically ill middle aged and elderly persons at risk for the development of depression. Analysis of change over time suggests causal relationships for further investigation.

Adolescent depression is highly prevalent, associated with negative effects and likely to recur, this provides a cogent argument for finding sustainable, cost-effective, developmentally appropriate approaches to preventing depression. Although there is good evidence to support efficacy, there is no evidence of the effectiveness of programs preventing adolescent depression. Thus the primary aim of this thesis is to evaluate the effectiveness of a universal, school-based, adolescent depression prevention program when implemented by teachers and local mental health professionals. Participants were 1003 secondary school students drawn from three pairs of matched Year 9 cohorts. The three pairs were assigned to either: (a) Resourceful Adolescent Program (RAP), an 11-session school-based resilience program delivered as part of the school curriculum (n = 522) or (b) a comparison condition (n = 481). All students completed measures of depressive symptoms and hopelessness at pre-intervention, post-intervention and 6-month follow-up. The intervention group completed quantitative and qualitative evaluations of perceived program benefit. Small program effects on depressive symptoms for the RAP group were evident for the whole group at post-intervention (ES = 0.30) and for girls only at follow-up (ES = 0.35). However, both boys' and girls' self-reports indicated very positive overall benefits from the RAP intervention. Teachers were not less effective as group leaders than mental health professionals in terms of outcomes on depression measures, perceived program benefits or acceptability to students. Public health implications of this population-based approach are discussed in the light of small effects, high recruitment rates and potential use of sustainable school resources.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 138-148). Also available in print.

Reports from epidemiological survey data identify that twice as many women than men suffer with depression over the life cycle. From reviewing the broad research literature, it appears that many studies focus on only one aspect of a bio-psychosocial model and, do not consider how these aspects interact. (For complete abstract open document)

Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 44-47).

Thesis (M.S.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Dept. of Psychology, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Th. M.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 44-47).