Optimizing Outcomes of Treatment-Resistant Depression in Older Adults (OPTIMUM): Study Design and Treatment Characteristics of the First 396 Participants Randomized

Relationship between Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total scores in older adults with major depressive disorder: An analysis of the OPTIMUM clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) are commonly used scales to measure depression severity in older adults.

METHODS

We utilized data from the Optimizing Outcomes of Treatment-Resistant Depression in Older Adults (OPTIMUM) clinical trial to produce conversion tables relating PHQ-9 and MADRS total scores. We split the sample into training (N = 555) and validation samples (N = 187). Equipercentile linking was performed on the training sample to produce conversion tables for PHQ-9 and MADRS. We compared the original and estimated scores in the validation sample with Bland-Altman analysis. We compared the depression severity level using the original and estimated scores with Chi-square tests.

RESULTS

The Bland-Altman analysis confirmed that differences between the original and estimated scores for at least 95 % of the sample fit within 1.96 standard deviations of the mean difference. Chi-square tests showed a significant difference in the proportion of participants at each depression severity category determined using the original and estimated scores.

LIMITATIONS

The conversion tables should be used with caution when comparing depression severity at the individual level.

CONCLUSIONS

Our conversion tables relating PHQ-9 and MADRS scores can be used to compare treatment outcomes using aggregate data in studies that only used one of these scales.

Alcohol and substance use in older adults with treatment-resistant depression

INTRODUCTION

Alcohol and substance use are increasing in older adults, many of whom have depression, and treatment in this context may be more hazardous. We assessed alcohol and other substance use patterns in older adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). We examined patient characteristics associated with higher alcohol consumption and examined the moderating effect of alcohol on the association between clinical variables and falls during antidepressant treatment.

METHODS

This secondary and exploratory analysis used baseline clinical data and data on falls during treatment from a large randomized antidepressant trial in older adults with TRD (the OPTIMUM trial). Multivariable ordinal logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with higher alcohol use. An interaction model was used to evaluate the moderating effect of alcohol on falls during treatment.

RESULTS

Of 687 participants, 51% acknowledged using alcohol: 10% were hazardous drinkers (AUDIT-10 score ≥5) and 41% were low-risk drinkers (score 1-4). Benzodiazepine use was seen in 24% of all participants and in 21% of drinkers. Use of other substances (mostly cannabis) was associated with alcohol consumption: it was seen in 5%, 9%, and 15% of abstainers, low-risk drinkers, and hazardous drinkers, respectively. Unexpectedly, use of other substances predicted increased risk of falls during antidepressant treatment only in abstainers.

CONCLUSIONS

One-half of older adults with TRD in this study acknowledged using alcohol. Use of alcohol concurrent with benzodiazepine and other substances was common. Risks-such as falls-of using alcohol and other substances during antidepressant treatment needs further study.

Perioperative mental health intervention for depression and anxiety symptoms in older adults study protocol: design and methods for three linked randomised controlled trials

INTRODUCTION

Preoperative anxiety and depression symptoms among older surgical patients are associated with poor postoperative outcomes, yet evidence-based interventions for anxiety and depression have not been applied within this setting. We present a protocol for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in three surgical cohorts: cardiac, oncological and orthopaedic, investigating whether a perioperative mental health intervention, with psychological and pharmacological components, reduces perioperative symptoms of depression and anxiety in older surgical patients.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Adults ≥60 years undergoing cardiac, orthopaedic or oncological surgery will be enrolled in one of three-linked type 1 hybrid effectiveness/implementation RCTs that will be conducted in tandem with similar methods. In each trial, 100 participants will be randomised to a remotely delivered perioperative behavioural treatment incorporating principles of behavioural activation, compassion and care coordination, and medication optimisation, or enhanced usual care with mental health-related resources for this population. The primary outcome is change in depression and anxiety symptoms assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-Anxiety Depression Scale from baseline to 3 months post surgery. Other outcomes include quality of life, delirium, length of stay, falls, rehospitalisation, pain and implementation outcomes, including study and intervention reach, acceptability, feasibility and appropriateness, and patient experience with the intervention.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The trials have received ethics approval from the Washington University School of Medicine Institutional Review Board. Informed consent is required for participation in the trials. The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals, presented at clinical research conferences and disseminated via the Center for Perioperative Mental Health website.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS

NCT05575128, NCT05685511, NCT05697835, pre-results.

A Perioperative Mental Health Intervention for Depressed and Anxious Older Surgical Patients: Results From a Feasibility Study

OBJECTIVES

The perioperative period is challenging and stressful for older adults. Those with depression and/or anxiety have an increased risk of adverse surgical outcomes. We assessed the feasibility of a perioperative mental health intervention composed of medication optimization and a wellness program following principles of behavioral activation and care coordination for older surgical patients.

METHODS

We included orthopedic, oncologic, and cardiac surgical patients aged 60 and older. Feasibility outcomes included study reach, the number of patients who agreed to participate out of the total eligible; and intervention reach, the number of patients who completed the intervention out of patients who agreed to participate. Intervention efficacy was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire for Anxiety and Depression (PHQ-ADS). Implementation potential and experiences were collected using patient surveys and qualitative interviews. Complementary caregiver feedback was also collected.

RESULTS

Twenty-three out of 28 eligible older adults participated in this study (mean age 68.0 years, 65% women), achieving study reach of 82% and intervention reach of 83%. In qualitative interviews, patients (n = 15) and caregivers (complementary data, n = 5) described overwhelmingly positive experiences with both the intervention components and the interventionist, and reported improvement in managing depression and/or anxiety. Preliminary efficacy analysis indicated improvement in PHQ-ADS scores (F = 12.13, p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The study procedures were reported by participants as feasible and the perioperative mental health intervention to reduce anxiety and depression in older surgical patients showed strong implementation potential. Preliminary data suggest its efficacy for improving depression and/or anxiety symptoms. A randomized controlled trial assessing the intervention and implementation effectiveness is currently ongoing.

Brain-Cognition Associations in Older Patients With Remitted Major Depressive Disorder or Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Multivariate Analysis of Gray and White Matter Integrity

BACKGROUND

Almost half of older patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) present with cognitive impairment, and one-third meet diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, mechanisms linking MDD and MCI remain unclear. We investigated multivariate associations between brain structural alterations and cognition in 3 groups of older patients at risk for dementia, remitted MDD (rMDD), MCI, and rMDD+MCI, as well as cognitively healthy nondepressed control participants.

METHODS

We analyzed magnetic resonance imaging data and cognitive domain scores in participants from the PACt-MD (Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease With Cognitive Remediation Plus Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Depression) study. Following quality control, we measured cortical thickness and subcortical volumes of selected regions from 283 T1-weighted scans and fractional anisotropy of white matter tracts from 226 diffusion-weighted scans. We assessed brain-cognition associations using partial least squares regressions in the whole sample and in each subgroup.

RESULTS

In the entire sample, atrophy in the medial temporal lobe and subregions of the motor and prefrontal cortex was associated with deficits in verbal and visuospatial memory, language skills, and, to a lesser extent, processing speed (p < .0001; multivariate r = 0.30, 0.34, 0.26, and 0.18, respectively). Widespread reduced white matter integrity was associated with deficits in executive functioning, working memory, and processing speed (p = .008; multivariate r = 0.21, 0.26, 0.35, respectively). Overall, associations remained significant in the MCI and rMDD+MCI groups, but not the rMDD or healthy control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

We confirm findings of brain-cognition associations previously reported in MCI and extend them to rMDD+MCI, but similar associations in rMDD are not supported. Early-onset and treated MDD might not contribute to structural alterations associated with cognitive impairment.

A multi- and mixed-method adaptation study of a patient-centered perioperative mental health intervention bundle

BACKGROUND

Anxiety and depression are common among older adults and can intensify during perioperative periods, but few mental health interventions are designed for older surgical patients' unique needs. As part of the feasibility trial, we developed and adapted a perioperative mental health (PMH) bundle for older patients comprised of behavioral activation (BA) and medication optimization (MO) to ameliorate anxiety and depressive symptoms before, during, and after cardiac, orthopedic, and oncologic surgery.

METHODS

We used mixed-methods including workshop studios with patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, and interventionists; intervention refinement and reflection meetings; patient case review meetings; intervention session audio-recordings and documentation forms; and patient and caregiver semi-structured interviews. We used the results to refine our PMH bundle. We used multiple analytical approaches to report the nature of adaptations, including hybrid thematic analysis and content analysis informed by the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications - Expanded.

RESULTS

Adaptations were categorized by content (intervention components), context (how the intervention is delivered, based on the study, target population, intervention format, intervention delivery mode, study setting, study personnel), training, and evaluation. Of 51 adaptations, 43.1% involved content, 41.2% involved context, and 15.7% involved training and evaluation. Several key adaptations were noted: (1) Intervention content was tailored to patient preferences and needs (e.g., rewording elements to prevent stigmatization of mental health needs; adjusting BA techniques and documentation forms to improve patient buy-in and motivation). (2) Cohort-specific adaptations were recommended based on differing patient needs. (3) Compassion was identified by patients as the most important element.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified evidence-based mental health intervention components from other settings and adapted them to the perioperative setting for older adults. Informed by mixed-methods, we created an innovative and pragmatic patient-centered intervention bundle that is acceptable, feasible, and responsive to the needs of older surgical populations. This approach allowed us to identify implementation strategies to improve the reach, scalability, and sustainability of our bundle, and can guide future patient-centered intervention adaptations.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

NCT05110690 (11/08/2021).

CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 Variant Coverage of Commercial Antidepressant Pharmacogenomic Testing Panels Available in Victoria, Australia

Pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing to inform antidepressant medication selection and dosing is gaining attention from healthcare professionals, patients, and payors in Australia. However, there is often uncertainty regarding which test is most suitable for a particular patient. Here, we identified and evaluated the coverage of CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 variants in commercial antidepressant PGx testing panels in Victoria, a large and ethnically diverse state of Australia. Test characteristics and star alleles tested for both genes were obtained directly from pathology laboratories offering PGx testing and compared against the Association of Molecular Pathology's recommended minimum (Tier 1) and extended (Tier 2) allele sets. Although all tests covered the minimum recommended alleles for CYP2C19, this was not the case for CYP2D6. This study emphasizes that PGx tests might not be suitable for all individuals in Australia due to the limited range of star alleles assessed. Inadequate haplotype coverage may risk misclassification of an individual's predicted metabolizer phenotype, which has ramifications for depression medication selection and dosage. This study underscores the urgent need for greater standardization in PGx testing and emphasizes the importance of considering genetic ancestry when choosing a PGx testing panel to ensure optimal clinical applicability.

Targeting Slow Wave Sleep Deficiency in Late-Life Depression: A Case Series With Propofol

Slow wave sleep (SWS), characterized by large electroencephalographic oscillations, facilitates crucial physiologic processes that maintain synaptic plasticity and overall brain health. Deficiency in older adults is associated with depression and cognitive dysfunction, such that enhancing sleep slow waves has emerged as a promising target for novel therapies. Enhancement of SWS has been noted after infusions of propofol, a commonly used anesthetic that induces electroencephalographic patterns resembling non-rapid eye movement sleep. This paper 1) reviews the scientific premise underlying the hypothesis that sleep slow waves are a novel therapeutic target for improving cognitive and psychiatric outcomes in older adults, and 2) presents a case series of two patients with late-life depression who each received two propofol infusions. One participant, a 71-year-old woman, had a mean of 2.8 minutes of evening SWS prior to infusions (0.7% of total sleep time). SWS increased on the night after each infusion, to 12.5 minutes (5.3% of total sleep time) and 24 minutes (10.6% of total sleep time), respectively. Her depression symptoms improved, reflected by a reduction in her Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score from 26 to 7. In contrast, the other participant, a 77-year-old man, exhibited no SWS at baseline and only modest enhancement after the second infusion (3 minutes, 1.3% of total sleep time). His MADRS score increased from 13 to 19, indicating a lack of improvement in his depression. These cases provide proof-of-concept that propofol can enhance SWS and improve depression for some individuals, motivating an ongoing clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04680910).

Antidepressant Augmentation versus Switch in Treatment-Resistant Geriatric Depression

BACKGROUND

The benefits and risks of augmenting or switching antidepressants in older adults with treatment-resistant depression have not been extensively studied.

METHODS

We conducted a two-step, open-label trial involving adults 60 years of age or older with treatment-resistant depression. In step 1, patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to augmentation of existing antidepressant medication with aripiprazole, augmentation with bupropion, or a switch from existing antidepressant medication to bupropion. Patients who did not benefit from or were ineligible for step 1 were randomly assigned in step 2 in a 1:1 ratio to augmentation with lithium or a switch to nortriptyline. Each step lasted approximately 10 weeks. The primary outcome was the change from baseline in psychological well-being, assessed with the National Institutes of Health Toolbox Positive Affect and General Life Satisfaction subscales (population mean, 50; higher scores indicate greater well-being). A secondary outcome was remission of depression.

RESULTS

In step 1, a total of 619 patients were enrolled; 211 were assigned to aripiprazole augmentation, 206 to bupropion augmentation, and 202 to a switch to bupropion. Well-being scores improved by 4.83 points, 4.33 points, and 2.04 points, respectively. The difference between the aripiprazole-augmentation group and the switch-to-bupropion group was 2.79 points (95% CI, 0.56 to 5.02; P = 0.014, with a prespecified threshold P value of 0.017); the between-group differences were not significant for aripiprazole augmentation versus bupropion augmentation or for bupropion augmentation versus a switch to bupropion. Remission occurred in 28.9% of patients in the aripiprazole-augmentation group, 28.2% in the bupropion-augmentation group, and 19.3% in the switch-to-bupropion group. The rate of falls was highest with bupropion augmentation. In step 2, a total of 248 patients were enrolled; 127 were assigned to lithium augmentation and 121 to a switch to nortriptyline. Well-being scores improved by 3.17 points and 2.18 points, respectively (difference, 0.99; 95% CI, -1.92 to 3.91). Remission occurred in 18.9% of patients in the lithium-augmentation group and 21.5% in the switch-to-nortriptyline group; rates of falling were similar in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In older adults with treatment-resistant depression, augmentation of existing antidepressants with aripiprazole improved well-being significantly more over 10 weeks than a switch to bupropion and was associated with a numerically higher incidence of remission. Among patients in whom augmentation or a switch to bupropion failed, changes in well-being and the occurrence of remission with lithium augmentation or a switch to nortriptyline were similar. (Funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute; OPTIMUM ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02960763.).

Treatment resistant depression in elderly

Treatment refractory depression (TRD) in the elderly is a common psychiatric disorder with high comorbidity and mortality. Older adults with TRD often have complicated comorbidities and several predisposing risk factors, which may lead to neuropsychiatric dysfunction and poor response to treatment. Several hypotheses suggest the underlying mechanisms, including vascular, immunological, senescence, or abnormal protein deposition. Treatment strategies for TRD include optimization of current medication dose, augmentation, switching to an alternative agent or class, and combination of different antidepressant classes, as well as nonpharmacological adjuvant interventions such as biophysical stimulation and psychotherapy. In summary, treatment recommendations for TRD in the elderly favor a multimodal approach, combining pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments.

Intravenous Ketamine for Late-Life Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Pilot Study of Tolerability, Safety, Clinical Benefits, and Effect on Cognition

OBJECTIVE

Evidence-based treatment options for late-life treatment-resistant depression (TRD) are limited. Ketamine is a promising treatment for TRD; however, there is a paucity of data on its safety and efficacy in older adults.

METHODS

In this pilot clinical trial, 25 adults aged ≥60 years with TRD received IV ketamine openly twice a week for 4 weeks; partial responders at the end of this acute phase were eligible to receive weekly infusions for 4 more weeks in a continuation phase. Acceptability, tolerability, and safety, including adverse and serious adverse events (AEs and SAEs), blood pressure changes, dissociation, craving, in addition to rates of depression response and remission were evaluated. The NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery was used to assess specific measures of executive function (EF) and overall fluid cognition.

RESULTS

Completion rates were 88% for the acute phase and 100% for the continuation phase. No AEs resulted in participant discontinuation, and there were no SAEs. Treatment-emergent elevation of blood pressure, dissociation, and craving were transient and did not result in any participant discontinuation. Depressive symptoms improved significantly and 48% of participants responded. During the acute phase, the EF measures and the fluid cognition composite score improved (Cohen's d = 0.61), and these improvements were sustained in the continuation phase.

CONCLUSION

This pilot study suggests that repeated IV ketamine infusions are well-tolerated and are associated with improvement in depression and EF in older adults with TRD. These promising findings need to be confirmed and extended in a larger randomized controlled trial.

A Patient-Centered Perioperative Mental Health Intervention Bundle: A Multi- and Mixed-Method Adaptation Study

Background

Anxiety and depression are common among older adults and can intensify during perioperative periods, but few mental health interventions are designed for older surgical patients' unique needs. We developed and adapted a perioperative mental health (PMH) bundle for older patients comprised of behavioral activation (BA) and medication optimization (MO) to ameliorate anxiety and depressive symptoms before, during, and after cardiac, orthopedic, and oncologic surgery.

Methods

We used mixed-methods including workshop studios with patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, and interventionists; intervention refinement and reflection meetings; patient case review meetings; intervention session audio-recordings and documentation forms; and patient and caregiver semi-structured interviews. We used the results to refine our PMH bundle. We used multiple analytical approaches to report the nature of adaptations, including hybrid thematic analysis and content analysis informed by the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications - Expanded.

Results

Adaptations were categorized by content (intervention components), context (how the intervention is delivered, based on the study, target population, intervention format, intervention delivery mode, study setting, study personnel), training, and evaluation. Of 51 adaptations, 43.1% involved content, 41.2% involved context, and 15.7% involved training and evaluation. Several key adaptations were noted: 1) Intervention content was tailored to patient preferences and needs (e.g., rewording elements to prevent stigmatization of mental health needs; adjusting BA techniques and documentation forms to improve patient buy-in and motivation). 2) Cohort-specific adaptations were recommended based on differing patient needs. 3) Compassion was identified by patients as the most important element.

Conclusions

We identified evidence-based mental health intervention components from other settings and adapted them to the perioperative setting for older adults. Informed by mixed-methods, we created an innovative and pragmatic patient-centered intervention bundle that is acceptable, feasible, and responsive to the needs of older surgical populations. This approach allowed us to identify implementation strategies to improve the reach, scalability, and sustainability of our bundle, and can guide future patient-centered intervention adaptations.

The Safety and Efficacy of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies for Older Adults: Knowns and Unknowns

Psychedelics and related compounds have shown efficacy for the treatment of a variety of conditions that are prevalent among older adults, including mood disorders, the psychological distress associated with a serious medical illness, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and prolonged grief disorder. Psychedelics also have properties that could help provide therapeutic benefits for patients with dementing disorders, as well as promoting personal growth among healthy older adults. This article focuses on psilocybin, a classic psychedelic, and MDMA, a substituted amphetamine with properties similar to classic psychedelics. Both act on the 5HT_2A receptor. Psychedelics can be safely administered to healthy adults in controlled conditions. However, both psilocybin and MDMA can increase blood pressure and heart rate, which could be a concern if used in older adults with cardiovascular disease. Very few older adults or patients with serious comorbidities have been included in clinical trials of psychedelics to date, raising the question of how generalizable study results are for the patients that most geropsychiatrists will be treating. Research on the neurophysiologic and mechanistic effects of psychedelics in older adults could also provide insights into the aging brain that could have clinical applications in the future. Given the potential of psychedelic compounds to benefit older adults, more research is needed to establish safety and efficacy among older adults, particularly those with multi-morbidity.

A pilot randomized sham controlled trial of bilateral iTBS for depression and executive function in older adults

INTRODUCTION

Executive function deficits (EFD) in late life depression (LLD) are associated with poor outcomes. Dysfunction of the cognitive control network (CCN) has been posited in the pathophysiology of LLD with EFD.

METHODS

Seventeen older adults with depression and EFD were randomized to iTBS or sham for 6 weeks. Intervention was delivered bilaterally using a recognized connectivity target.

RESULTS

A total of 89% (17/19) participants completed all study procedures. No serious adverse events occurred. Pre to post-intervention change in mean Montgomery-Asberg-depression scores was not different between iTBS or sham, p = 0.33. No significant group-by-time interaction for Montgomery-Asberg Depression rating scale scores (F _{3, 44}  = 0.51; p = 0.67) was found. No significant differences were seen in the effects of time between the two groups on executive measures: Flanker scores (F _{1, 14}  = 0.02, p = 0.88), Dimensional-change-card-sort scores F _{1, 14}  = 0.25, p = 0.63, and working memory scores (F _{1, 14}  = 0.98, p = 0.34). The Group-by-time interaction effect for functional connectivity (FC) within the Fronto-parietal-network was not significant (F _{1, 14}  = 0.36, p = 0.56). No significant difference in the effect-of-time between the two groups was found on FC within the Cingulo-opercular-network (F _{1, 14}  = 0, p = 0.98).

CONCLUSION

Bilateral iTBS is feasible in LLD. Preliminary results are unsupportive of efficacy on depression, executive function or target engagement of the CCN. A future Randomized clinical trial requires a larger sample size with stratification of cognitive and executive variables and refinement in the target engagement.

Procedure for Organizing a Post-FDA-approval Evaluation of Antidepressants

Purpose: The study reports the construction of a cohort used to study the effectiveness of antidepressants.

Methods: The cohort includes experiences of 3,678,082 patients with depression in the United States on antidepressants between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2018. A total of 10,221,145 antidepressant treatment episodes were analyzed. Patients who had no utilization of health services for at least two years, or who had died, were excluded from the analysis. Follow-up was passive, automatic, and collated from fragmented clinical services of diverse providers.

Results: The average follow-up was 2.93 years, resulting in 15,096,055 person-years of data. The mean age of the cohort was 46.54 years (standard deviation of 17.48) at first prescription of antidepressant, which was also the enrollment event (16.92% were over 65 years), and most were female (69.36%). In 10,221,145 episodes, within the first 100 days of start of the episode, 4,729,372 (46.3%) continued their treatment, 1,306,338 (12.8%) switched to another medication, 3,586,156 (35.1%) discontinued their medication, and 599,279 (5.9%) augmented their treatment.

Conclusions: We present a procedure for constructing a cohort using claims data. A surrogate measure for self-reported symptom remission based on the patterns of use of antidepressants has been proposed to address the absence of outcomes in claims. Future studies can use the procedures described here to organize studies of the comparative effectiveness of antidepressants.

Mental health care for older adults: recent advances and new directions in clinical practice and research

The world's population is aging, bringing about an ever-greater burden of mental disorders in older adults. Given multimorbidities, the mental health care of these people and their family caregivers is labor-intensive. At the same time, ageism is a big problem for older people, with and without mental disorders. Positive elements of aging, such as resilience, wisdom and prosocial behaviors, need to be highlighted and promoted, both to combat stigma and to help protect and improve mental health in older adults. The positive psychiatry of aging is not an oxymoron, but a scientific construct strongly informed by research evidence. We champion a broader concept of geriatric psychiatry - one that encompasses health as well as illness. In the present paper, we address these issues in the context of four disorders that are the greatest source of years lived with disability: neurocognitive disorders, major depression, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders. We emphasize the need for implementation of multidisciplinary team care, with comprehensive assessment, clinical management, intensive outreach, and coordination of mental, physical and social health services. We also underscore the need for further research into moderators and mediators of treatment response variability. Because optimal care of older adults with mental disorders is both patient-focused and family-centered, we call for further research into enhancing the well-being of family caregivers. To optimize both the safety and efficacy of pharmacotherapy, further attention to metabolic, cardiovascular and neurological tolerability is much needed, together with further development and testing of medications that reduce the risk for suicide. At the same time, we also address positive aging and normal cognitive aging, both as an antidote to ageism and as a catalyst for change in the way we think about aging per se and late-life mental disorders more specifically. It is in this context that we provide directions for future clinical care and research.

Perioperative mental health intervention bundle for older surgical patients: protocol for an intervention development and feasibility study

INTRODUCTION

The perioperative period is high risk for older adults. Depression and anxiety are common perioperative problems, frequently coexisting with cognitive impairment. Older patients with these conditions are more likely than younger patients to experience postoperative delirium, long hospital stays, poor quality of life and rehospitalisation. These experiences can, in turn, exacerbate anxiety and depressive symptoms. Despite these risks, little is known about how to treat perioperative anxiety and depression among older adults.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We designed a feasibility study of a perioperative mental health intervention bundle to improve perioperative mental health, specifically depression and anxiety. The overarching goals of this study are twofold: first, to adapt and refine an intervention bundle comprised of behavioural activation and medication optimisation to meet the needs of older adults within three surgical patient populations (ie, orthopaedic, oncological and cardiac); and second, to test the feasibility of study procedures and intervention bundle implementation. Quantitative data on clinical outcomes such as depression, anxiety, quality of life, delirium, falls, length of stay, hospitalisation and pain will be collected and tabulated for descriptive purposes. A hybrid inductive-deductive thematic approach will be employed to analyse qualitative feedback from key stakeholders.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study received approval from the Washington University Institutional Review Board. Results of this study will be presented in peer-reviewed journals, at professional conferences, and to our perioperative mental health advisory board.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05110690.

MRI predictors of pharmacotherapy response in major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder is among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, exacting a substantial personal, social, and economic toll. Antidepressant treatment typically involves an individualized trial and error approach with an inconsistent success rate. Despite a pressing need, no reliable biomarkers for predicting treatment outcome have yet been discovered. Brain MRI measures hold promise in this regard, though clinical translation remains elusive. In this review, we summarize structural MRI and functional MRI (fMRI) measures that have been investigated as predictors of treatment outcome. We broadly divide these into five categories including three structural measures: volumetric, white matter burden, and white matter integrity; and two functional measures: resting state fMRI and task fMRI. Currently, larger hippocampal volume is the most widely replicated predictor of successful treatment. Lower white matter hyperintensity burden has shown robustness in late life depression. However, both have modest discriminative power. Higher fractional anisotropy of the cingulum bundle and frontal white matter, amygdala hypoactivation and anterior cingulate cortex hyperactivation in response to negative emotional stimuli, and hyperconnectivity within the default mode network (DMN) and between the DMN and executive control network also show promise as predictors of successful treatment. Such network-focused measures may ultimately provide a higher-dimensional measure of treatment response with closer ties to the underlying neurobiology.

Mental Health Clinical Research Innovations during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Future Is Now

The COVID-19 pandemic put an unprecedented strain on clinical research worldwide. As in-person clinical trials came to a screeching halt, we sought new ways to move forward, or as Bob Dylan put it, "start swimmin' or sink like a stone." Telemedicine has long been a part of medicine and clinical research, but fully remote clinical trials were few and far between. In the midst of the pandemic, at the Washington University School of Medicine we successfully conducted a fully remote clinical trial for a potential COVID-19 therapy, demonstrating the feasibility of fully remote or decentralized clinical trials.

"What else can we do?"-Provider perspectives on treatment-resistant depression in late life

BACKGROUND

Treatment-resistant depression in late-life (TRLLD) is common. Perspectives of primary care providers (PCPs) and psychiatrists treating TRLLD could give insights into the challenges and potential solutions for managing this condition.

METHODS

To identify perspectives of providers who treat TRLLD, we conducted a qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured interviews with providers treating older adults with TRLLD in five locations across North America (i.e., Los Angeles, New York City, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Toronto). We conducted semi-structured interviews with 50 care providers (24 primary care providers [PCPs], 22 psychiatrists, and 4 depression care managers). Interviews elicited providers' perspectives on treatment options for TRLLD, including treatment within the primary care setting and referral to psychiatry, and sought suggestions for improvement.

RESULTS

We identified four themes. (1) Treating TRLLD takes an emotional toll on providers; (2) existing psychiatric services are inadequate to meet the needs of patients with TRLLD, mainly because of lack of access; (3) PCPs often attempt to treat TRLLD, even when they are not comfortable doing so; and (4) to better meet the needs of patients with TRLLD, providers recommend integrated care models involving PCPs, psychiatrists, and psychotherapists, potentially made more feasible by the growth of telehealth.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from these qualitative interviews show the challenges in providing care for TRLLD. These findings can guide knowledge dissemination to psychiatrists, PCPs, policy-makers, and other stakeholders involved in the mental health system. They can also inform structural changes to clinical practice that may increase the implementation of the best treatment strategies across settings to improve long-term outcomes for TRLLD.

Going remote: Implementing digital research methods at an academic medical center during COVID-19

COVID-19 has forced medical research institutions to conduct clinical research remotely. Here, we describe how a university's mHealth Research Core helped facilitate the shift to remote research during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019 (pre-pandemic), we conducted stakeholder interviews and leadership group sessions to identify, create, and implement resources and core functions to support investigator-initiated mHealth research. Between April 2019 and February 2020, we identified four investigator needs: 1) a seminar series on trends in mHealth research, 2) mHealth case consultation services, 3) liaison services with institutional regulatory compliance groups, and 4) online navigation tools for implementation of mHealth methods (e.g., eConsent) and for building partnerships with technology vendors. To date, the mHealth Research Core has held seven seminars, completed 71 case consultations, assisted four COVID-related clinical studies, advised the IRB on shifting to remote research, and widely disseminated eConsent navigation tools. Although pre-pandemic stakeholder and investigator needs led to the creation of the mHealth Research Core, this institutional resource played a critical role in continuing clinical research during the pandemic by assisting investigators in rapidly shifting to remote study methodology.

An update on antidepressant pharmacotherapy in late-life depression

Introduction: Clinically important depressive symptoms that occur in adults over age 60 are often termed late-life depression (LLD). LLD poses challenges for treating clinicians in both detection and treatment. Antidepressants are the most common first-line treatment approach. Older adults are at an increased risk of adverse effects because of polypharmacy.Areas covered: This article summarizes the challenges and approaches when using pharmacotherapy in LLD with a focus on newer data that have become available during the last five years. While no new antidepressants have become available during this period, a review of the literature summarizes advances in the knowledge of the adverse effects associated with various antidepressants and on the potential contribution of pharmacogenetic tools when prescribing antidepressants to older patients.Expert opinion: During the past 5 years, most of the literature relevant to the pharmacotherapy of MDD in older patients has focused on adverse effects. In particular, the effects of antidepressants on cognition and bone are emerging as important areas for clinical attention and further investigation. There is also an emerging literature on the potential role of pharmacogenetic testing in patients with MDD, though recommendations for use in older adults await larger studies that demonstrate its efficacy and cost-effectiveness.

Major Depressive Disorder in Older Patients as an Inflammatory Disorder: Implications for the Pharmacological Management of Geriatric Depression

Depression is a common and highly disabling condition in older adults. It is a heterogenous disorder and there is emerging evidence of a link between inflammation and depression in older patients, with a possible inflammatory subtype of depression. Persistent low-level inflammation, from several sources including psychological distress and chronic disease, can disrupt monoaminergic and glutaminergic systems to create dysfunctional brain networks. Despite the evidence for the role of inflammation in depression, there is insufficient evidence to recommend use of any putative anti-inflammatory agent in the treatment of depression in older adults at this stage. Further characterisation of markers of inflammation and stratification of participants with elevated rates of inflammatory markers in treatment trials is needed.

The use of sequential pharmacotherapy for the treatment of acute major depression: a scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a chronic, relapsing, and remitting disorder affecting over 250 million persons each year worldwide. More than 50% of the patients do not respond to their initial antidepressant treatment and may benefit from sequential pharmacotherapy for the acute treatment of their MDD. Although guidelines outline options for next-step treatments, there is a paucity of evidence to select specific second- or third-step treatments.

AREAS COVERED

This scoping review synthesizes and discusses available evidence for sequential pharmacotherapy for MDD. MEDLINE was searched from inception to 7 July 2020; 4490 studies were identified. We selected meta-analyses and reports on clinical trials that were judged to inform the sequential selection of pharmacotherapy for MDD.

EXPERT OPINION

Most relevant published trials are focused on, and support, the use of augmentation pharmacotherapy. There is also some support for other strategies such as combining or switching antidepressants. In the future, more studies need to directly compare these sequential options. To provide more personalized treatment within the framework of precision psychiatry, these studies should include an assessment of moderators and mediators ('mechanism') of antidepressant response.

Combinatorial Pharmacogenomic Testing Improves Outcomes for Older Adults With Depression

(Reprinted with permission from Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2020; 28:933-945).

Experiences of American Older Adults with Pre-existing Depression During the Beginnings of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicity, Mixed-Methods Study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of older adults with pre-existing major depressive disorder (MDD).

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were 73 community-living older adults with pre-existing MDD (mean age 69 [SD 6]) in Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, and St Louis.

DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS

During the first 2 months of the pandemic, the authors interviewed participants with a semistructured qualitative interview evaluating access to care, mental health, quality of life, and coping. The authors also assessed depression, anxiety, and suicidality with validated scales and compared scores before and during the pandemic.

RESULTS

Five themes from the interviews highlight the experience of older adults with MDD: 1) They are more concerned about the risk of contracting the virus than the risks of isolation. 2) They exhibit resilience to the stress and isolation of physical distancing. 3) Most are not isolated socially, with virtual contact with friends and family. 4) Their quality of life is lower, and they worry their mental health will suffer with continued physical distancing. 5) They are outraged by an inadequate governmental response to the pandemic. Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation symptom scores did not differ from scores before the pandemic.

CONCLUSION

Most older adults with pre-existing MDD show resilience in the first 2 months of the COVID-19 pandemic but have concerns about the future. Policies and interventions to provide access to medical services and opportunities for social interaction are needed to help to maintain mental health and quality of life as the pandemic continues.

Combinatorial Pharmacogenomic Testing Improves Outcomes for Older Adults With Depression

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the clinical utility of combinatorial pharmacogenomic testing for informing medication selection among older adults who have experienced antidepressant medication failure for major depressive disorder (MDD).

DESIGN

Post hoc analysis of data from a blinded, randomized controlled trial comparing two active treatment arms.

SETTING

Psychiatry specialty and primary care clinics across 60 U.S. community and academic sites.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults age 65 years or older at baseline (n = 206), diagnosed with MDD and inadequate response to at least one medication on the combinatorial pharmacogenomic test report during the current depressive episode.

INTERVENTION

Combinatorial pharmacogenomic testing to inform medication selection (guided-care), compared with treatment as usual (TAU).

OUTCOMES

Mean percent symptom improvement, response rate, and remission rateat week 8, measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; medication switching; and comorbidity moderator analysis.

RESULTS

At week 8, symptom improvement was not significantly different for guided-care than for TAU (∆ = 8.1%, t = 1.64, df = 187; p = 0.102); however, guided-care showed significantly improved response (∆ = 13.6%, t = 2.16, df = 187; p = 0.032) and remission (∆ = 12.7%, t = 2.49, df = 189; p = 0.014) relative to TAU. By week 8, more than twice as many patients in guided-care than in TAU were on medications predicted to have no gene-drug interactions (χ² = 19.3, df = 2; p <0.001). Outcomes in the guided-care arm showed consistent improvement through the end of the open-design 24-week trial, indicating durability of the effect. Differences in outcomes between arms were not significantly impacted by comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

Combinatorial pharmacogenomic test-informed medication selection improved outcomes over TAU among older adults with depression.

Depression in the Elderly. Consensus Statement of the Spanish Psychogeriatric Association

INTRODUCTION

Present knowledge about depression in the elderly is still scarce and often controversial, despite its high frequency and impact. This article reports the results and most relevant conclusions of a Delphi-based consensus on geriatric depression promoted by the Spanish Psychogeriatric Association.

METHODS

A 78-item questionnaire was developed by 7 highly specialized geriatric psychiatrists and was evaluated using the Modified Delphi technique in two rounds answered by 35 psychiatrists with an extensive expertise in geriatric depression. The topics and number of questions (in brackets) covered were: concepts, clinical aspects, and risk factors (12); screening and diagnosis (7); psychotic depression (17); depression and dementia (5); antidepressant drug treatment (18); non-pharmacological biological treatments (5); psychotherapeutic treatments (4); comorbidity and preventive aspects (6); professional training needed (4). In addition, the expert panel's opinion on the antidepressants of choice in 21 common comorbid conditions and on different strategies to approach treatment-resistant cases in terms of both efficacy and safety was assessed.

RESULTS

After the two rounds of the Delphi process, consensus was reached for 59 (75.6%) of the 78 items. Detailed recommendations are included in the text. Considering pharmacological treatments, agomelatine was the most widely mentioned drug to be recommended in terms of safety in comorbid conditions. Desvenlafaxine, sertraline, and vortioxetine, were the most frequently recommended antidepressants in comorbid conditions in general. Combining parameters of efficacy and safety, experts recommended the following steps to address cases of treatment resistance: 1. Escalation to the maximum tolerated dose; 2. Change of antidepressant; 3. Combination with another antidepressant; 4. Potentiation with an antipsychotic or with lamotrigine; 5. Potentiation with lithium; 6. Potentiation with dopamine agonists or methylphenidate.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Consensus was reached for a high number of items as well as for the management of depression in the context of comorbid conditions and in resistant cases. In the current absence of sufficient evidence-based information, our results can be used to inform medical doctors about clinical recommendations that might reduce uncertainty in the diagnosis and treatment of elderly patients with depressive disorders.

Action at a Distance: Geriatric Research during a Pandemic

BACKGROUND

“Action at a distance” may be the new norm for clinical researchers in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic that may require social distancing for the next 18 months. We must minimize face‐to‐face contact with vulnerable populations. But we must also persist, adapt, and help our older patients and study participants during the pandemic.

METHODS

Clinical researchers have an obligation to help, and we can. Recommendations for clinical researchers working with older adults during the COVID‐19 pandemic are discussed.

RESULTS

Implement technology now: Minimize face‐to‐face contact with participants by utilizing digital tools, such as shifting to electronic informed consent and digital HIPAA‐compliant tools such as e‐mailed surveys or telehealth assessments.

Assess the psychological and social impact of COVID‐19: How are participants coping? What health or social behaviors have changed? How are they keeping up with current events? What are they doing to stay connected to their families, friends, and communities? Are their healthcare needs being met? Current studies should be adapted immediately to these ends.

Mobilize research platforms for patient needs: Leverage our relationships with participants and rapidly deploy novel clinical engagement techniques such as digital tools to intervene remotely and reduce the negative effects of social isolation on our participants. Equip research staff with tangible resources, and provide timely population‐specific health information to support patients and healthcare providers.

CONCLUSIONS

We have an opportunity to make an impact on our older adult patients now as this pandemic continues to unfold. Above all, clinical researchers need to continue working, to help as many people as possible through the crisis. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:922–925, 2020

Association of Antidepressants With Recurrent, Injurious and Unexplained Falls is Not Explained by Reduced Gait Speed

OBJECTIVE

To examine if antidepressants at baseline are associated with falls and syncope over 4 years follow-up and if any observed associations are explained by baseline gait speed.

DESIGN

Longitudinal study (three waves).

SETTING

The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), a nationally representative cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

Two thousand ninety-three community-dwelling adults aged ≥60 years.

MEASUREMENTS

Antidepressants (ATC code "N06A") were identified. Recurrent falls (≥2 falls), injurious falls (requiring medical attention), unexplained falls, and syncope were reported at either Wave 2 or 3. Usual gait speed was the mean of two walks on a 4.88 m GAITRite walkway. Poisson regression analysis was used to examine associations between baseline antidepressant use and future falls adjusting for sociodemographics, physical, cognitive and mental health, and finally, gait speed.

RESULTS

Compared to non-antidepressant users, those on antidepressants at baseline were more likely to report all types of falls (24.8-40.7% versus 9.8-18%) at follow-up. Antidepressants at baseline were independently associated with injurious falls (incidence risk ratio: 1.58, 95% confidence interval: 1.21, 2.06, z = 3.38, p = 0.001, df = 32) and unexplained falls (incidence risk ratio: 1.49, 95% confidence interval: 1.04, 2.15, z = 2.17, p = 0.030, df = 32) independent of all covariates including gait speed.

CONCLUSION

There was little evidence to support the hypothesis that gait would (partly) explain any observed associations between baseline use of antidepressants and future falls. The underlying mechanisms of the observed relationships may be related to depression, vascular pathology, or direct effects of antidepressants. Clinicians should identify the best treatment option for an individual based on existing risk factors for outcomes such as falls.

Participants' written informed consent in low-risk pragmatic clinical trials with medicines

Introduction: An important gap within modern medicine is the lack of enough comparative effectiveness research of marketed medicines. Low-risk pragmatic randomized controlled trials (pRCTs) are those conducted resembling usual clinical practice that poses no or minimal incremental risk compared with normal clinical practice.Areas covered: This review addresses one important hurdle in the conduct of low-risk pRCTs: the need to seek participants' written informed consent.Expert opinion: The CIOMS ethical guidelines consider that any research that (a) would not be feasible or practicable to carry out without the waiver or modification, (b) has important social value, and (c) poses no more than minimal risks to participants, and that is approved by the relevant research ethics committee, could be conducted without participants' consent. It is clear that these provisions are applicable to some low-risk RCTs. Recently a research on the EU-CTR registry showed that only 2% of all ongoing phase 4 RCTs could have fulfilled the CIOMS provisions following the investigators' assessment. The EU clinical trial regulation - and that of other jurisdictions - should be debated on the suitableness of the conduct with an alteration or waiver of participants' consent of those low-risk pRCTs that fulfill the three CIOMS provisions.

Treatment for depression comorbid with dementia

Depression is a common comorbidity in dementia. Randomised controlled studies of antidepressants do not show a significant improvement in depressive symptoms in patients with comorbid dementia and are known to lead to an increase in side effects. However, there are relatively few studies of depression in dementia, and drawing firm conclusions about the use of antidepressants is limited by the amount of data available. Furthermore, it is unclear whether data can be extrapolated from similar populations (eg, those with late-life depression) to inform pharmacotherapy in this patient group. Given the lack of effectiveness and risk of side effects associated with pharmacological treatments, psychological interventions may offer important therapeutic benefits. There is evidence for the effectiveness of individual psychological therapy, and further research will establish which psychological approach is the most effective. Some studies have shown an improvement in depressive symptoms using structured sleep hygiene programmes, exercise, arts interventions and music therapy. These studies are hampered by small data sets, and the benefits to individuals may not be well captured by standard outcome measures. At present, the best evidence for arts-based approaches is in music therapy. Depression with comorbid dementia responds well to electroconvulsive therapy and this is a useful treatment modality for those with severe or life-threatening depressive symptoms. Alternative neurostimulation techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation are not widely used at present and further research is needed before they can be a more widely used treatment modality.

Antidepressant Treatment for Late-Life Depression: Considering Risks and Benefits

This editorial comments on the article bySobieraj et al.