A Cognitive Behavioural Group Therapy Manual for Elderly People with Type 2 Diabetes and Minor Depression

Diabetes in the elderly is often associated with depressive symptoms. This comorbidity leads to a higher risk for diabetes related complications, disability and mortality and can be observed not only in major depression but also in subthreshold or minor depression. Specific psychological interventions for this high-risk patient group were not available yet. Therefore, we developed a diabetes specific cognitive behavioral group intervention for elderly outpatients with subthreshold or minor depression and type 2 diabetes within a randomized controlled trial. The treatment goals focus on improvement in health related quality of life, depression symptoms, glycemic control and cost effectiveness. In this article we give an overview of the manualized treatment program.