Depression Self-Management Program for Rural Women With Physical Disabilities

Objective: To examine the efficacy of a depression self-management intervention for rural women with physical disabilities. Participants and Design: A sample of 96 rural women with disabilities experiencing depression, who were recruited through centers for independent living (CILs), were randomly assigned to either a depression self-management intervention or a control group, and completed pre-, post-, and 3-month follow-up questionnaires. Intervention: An 8-week depression self-management program led by CIL staff members who received preintervention training and ongoing clinical supervision. Measures: Primary outcomes were the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CESD-10). Results: Relative to the control group, women in the intervention group demonstrated a greater reduction in BDI-II scores at posttest and follow-up. Significant differential improvement was not observed on the CESD-10 or on the following hypothesized mediators: self-efficacy, depression self-management skills, social support, and connectedness. Conclusion: A brief, peer-led, depression self-management program resulted in a reduction of depressive symptomatology on 1 of the 2 measures of depression. This study serves as 1 model for delivering depression treatment to a rural population with significant needs yet extremely limited access to mental health services.