Cognitive Therapy with Aged Persons: Implications of Research Design for Its Implementation and Evaluation

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On the basis of intervention research with elderly persons, numerous research design issues are discussed that influence the implementation and evaluation of cognitive therapy with aged individuals. These issues reflect a concern for the impact of placebo effects, sampling, and attrition on treatment efficacy, as well as attention to the measurement of rational thinking in the aged. Moreover, environmental support for rational solutions to everyday problems among older persons may vary. It is argued that given the limited research to date, an awareness of such issues must temper conclusions about the effectiveness of cognitive interventions with older …