DEPRESSION TREATMENT GROUPS
FOR RHEUMATOLOGY PATIENTS

Who Can Attend?	What Is The Treatment?	What Is The Format Of The Sessions?
What are the Symptoms of Depression?	What Will I Learn?	When Do These Sessions Take Place?
Are You Depressed?	How Large Are The Groups?	Where Do These Sessions Take Place?
You Should Seek Treatment For Your Depressed Mood If...	Who Lead The Groups?
		What Does It Cost?
Where Do I Park?	Contact Information	Referral Form

Who Can Attend?

These groups are open to anyone with a rheumatological disorder, such as:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Lupus
• Scleroderma

If you are unsure if you qualify, please ask your family doctor.

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What are the Symptoms of Depression?

Primary features:

• Depressed mood or sadness

  or

• Loss of interest of pleasure in previously enjoyed activities

Additional symptoms:

• A change in appetite or weight
• Insomnia or excessive sleep
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feeling restless or slowed down
• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Concentration problems

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Are You Depressed?

Depression ranges from mild to very severe. Many people experience a few of these symptoms occasionally and these fluctuations in mood are normal.

People with severe depression experience a large number of these symptoms and these symptoms are frequent, long-lasting and disruptive.

Depression is not the same as the normal sadness or grief you experience after a significant loss. Depression lasts longer, and includes feelings of self-criticism, hopelessness and despair.

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You Should Seek Treatment For Your Depressed Mood If:

• Your depressed mood feels overwhelming or out-of-control.
• Your old methods of "boosting" your mood aren't effective and you are unable to overcome your depression.
• Your depressed mood has a negative impact on your ability to work, enjoy leisure activities, or maintain satisfying relationships with family and friends.
• You have had thoughts of suicide.

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What is the Treatment?

This group uses short-term, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), which is an effective treatment for depression. People suffering from depression experience negative thoughts, feelings and behaviour changes which in turn exacerbates or prolongs their depression. CBT teaches patients coping strategies to interrupt this negative cycle and begin the recovery process.

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What Will I Learn?

What is depression and what causes it?

Why do people with chronic illnesses often become depressed?

How can you stop your negative thoughts and feelings?

How can you get more pleasure and joy from life?

How can you increase your energy and motivation?

How common are suicidal thoughts?
Are you at risk?

What is the recovery process?

How can psychological treatment help?

What are antidepressant medications and how well do they work?

How do you take antidepressant medication to ensure optimal benefit?

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How Large Are The Groups?

Each group will consist of 8 to 12 patients, all of whom are struggling to cope with both a chronic illness and depression.

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Who Leads The Groups?

The depression groups are run by Dr. Marilyn Hill, a clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of patients with chronic pain.

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What Is The Format Of The Sessions?

Treatment consists of 8-10 90-minute sessions consisting of education, group discussion and skill-building components.

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When Do These Sessions Take Place?

The sessions are held throughout the year, and are typically scheduled for Monday afternoons, from 4:00 to 5:30 PM.

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Where Do These Sessions Take Place?

The depression treatment group sessions will take place in the Rheumatology Day Program conference room on the third floor of the Arthritis Institute, St. Joseph's Health Care London. The Arthritis Institute is located in the Monsignor Roney Building at the corner of Cheapside and Richmond.

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What Does It Cost?

The program itself is covered by OHIP, but patients pay a small fee for session materials.

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Where Do I Park?

Parking is available in two locations: The Monsignor Roney Building parking lot (entrance on Cheapside St.) ($1.95/hour) on the St. Joseph's parking garage (entrance on Grosvenor St.). Two-hour metered parking is available on Wellington St.

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Contact Information

Depression Treatment Group
Arthritis Institute
St. Joseph's Health Care London
268 Grosvenor St., P.O. Box 5777
London, Ontario N6A 4V2
519-646-6340 (phone)
519-646-6317 (fax)
http://www.sjhc.london.on.ca/sjh/programs/arthritic/arthriti.htm