Cognitive bibliotherapy and memory training for older adults with depressive symptoms

Efficacy of low intensity interventions for geriatric depression and anxiety - A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the efficacy of low intensity psychological interventions for older adults (60+ years) with clinical anxiety and/or depressive disorders.

METHOD

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised control trials of low-intensity psychological interventions for anxiety and/or depression with an active or passive control condition (e.g., waitlist, treatment-as-usual or active control) in any setting. Low intensity psychological interventions (e.g., cognitive behaviour therapy [CBT]) targeted anxiety and/or depression as primary outcomes, were primarily self-help, and included support from trained practitioners/facilitators with <6 h total contact time (typically <30 min p/contact).

RESULTS

Seven studies consisting of 304 older adults (65-78 years, Mage = 70, SD = 4) were identified and six included in the meta-analysis of depression outcomes and three for anxiety. A random effects meta-analysis of group differences in symptom change from pre-post treatment found evidence favouring low intensity psychological interventions over passive control groups for the treatment of depressive and anxiety symptoms, with moderate effect sizes for depression (Cohen's d = -0.62) and large effect sizes for anxiety (Cohen's d = -0.84) at post-treatment.

LIMITATIONS

Results are limited by study design of included studies such that the efficacy of interventions compared to treatment-as-usual, non-CBT approaches, in adults >80 years and long-term effects are unknown.

CONCLUSIONS

There is some evidence supporting the clinical benefits of low intensity psychological interventions for depressive and anxiety symptoms in older adults compared to passive controls. More research is needed to examine efficacy compared to active control conditions, and among those over 80 years.

Effectiveness and Acceptability of Low-intensity Psychological Interventions on the Well-being of Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Objectives: Growth in the older adult population and healthcare inequities mean there is a global need to increase access to early intervention in mental healthcare for older adults. This systematic review synthesized the evidence for the efficacy and acceptability of low-intensity psychological interventions (self-help, psychoeducation, bibliotherapy, internet cognitive-behavioral therapy: iCBT) for older adults with mild-to-moderate mental health problems.Methods: Ovid, EBSCOhost and ProQuest were searched for articles describing low-intensity psychological interventions. Pre and post outcome measures and a mean age of at least 50 (age range ≥40) were required for inclusion.Results: 26 articles (23 studies) described various interventions. Most studies were good quality and reported improvements in participant's mental health scores post intervention. Participants were more likely to be female, aged 60-70 and to be highly educated. Eight studies reported obtaining participant satisfaction ratings. Three studies included participants from rural areas.Conclusions: Low-intensity psychological interventions can be effective for older adults with mild-to-moderate mental health problems, but generalizability is constrained.Clinical Implications: Guided iCBT and bibliotherapy may be beneficial for adults in their 60s and 70s experiencing mild-to-moderate levels of depression. CBT may also be beneficial for reducing symptoms of mild-to-moderate anxiety. Providing the option of low-intensity psychological intervention, particularly iCBT, may help increase engagement with treatment.

Benefits of Positive Psychology-Based Story Reading on Adolescent Mental Health and Well-Being

The importance of complete mental health in school context has recently begun to attract a lot of attention. Positive psychology interventions are often associated with improvement in mental health outcomes, but few studies have examined whether story reading is an intervention that is linked with indicators of complete mental health. This study investigated the effects of story reading interventions on both positive and negative indicators of mental health over time for a group of Turkish grade 10 high school students (n = 53). These included 33 students in a story reading group and 20 in a control group for comparison. The results showed that story reading led to improvement in students' mindfulness, optimism, happiness, and positive emotions, and also caused reduction in depression, anxiety, pessimism, and other negative emotions over a 5-week period, with a small to large effect sizes. The obtained results are discussed in the context of their implications for potential psychological interventions in high school settings.

Neurological Changes and Depression: 2020 Update

This article covers current research on the relationship between depression and cognitive impairment in older adults. First, it approaches the clinical assessment of late-life depression and comorbid cognitive impairment. Cognitive risk factors for suicide are discussed. Research is then provided on neuropsychological changes associated with depression, discussing subjective cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia profiles. In addition, literature regarding neuroimaging and biomarker findings in depressed older adults is presented. Finally, therapeutic models for treatment of late-life depression are discussed, including psychotherapy models, holistic treatments, pharmacologic approaches, and brain stimulation therapies.

Cognitive Training for Ethnic Minority Older Adults in the United States: A Review

Purpose of the Study

Interest in cognitive training for healthy older adults to reduce cognitive decline has grown considerably over the past few decades. Given the shift toward a more diverse society, the purpose of this review is to examine the extent of race/ethnic minority participation in cognitive training studies and characteristics of studies that included race/ethnic minority participants.

Design and Methods

This review considered peer-reviewed studies reporting cognitive training studies for cognitively healthy, community-dwelling older adults (age 55+) in the United States published in English before December 31, 2015. A total of 31 articles published between 1986 and 2015 meeting inclusion criteria were identified and included in the review.

Results

A total of 6,432 participants were recruited across all of the studies, and ranged in age from 55 to 99 years. Across all studies examined, 39% reported racial/ethnic background information. Only 3 of these studies included a substantial number of minorities (26.7% in the ACTIVE study; 28.4% in the SeniorWISE study; 22.7% in the TEAM study). Race/ethnic minority older adults were disproportionately underrepresented in cognitive training studies.

Implications

Further research should aim to enroll participants representative of various race/ethnic minority populations. Strategies for recruitment and retention of ethnic minority participants in cognitive training research are discussed, which could lead to the development of more culturally appropriate and perhaps more effective cognitive interventions.

Neurologic Changes and Depression

This article covers current research on the relationship between depression and cognitive impairment in older adults. First, it approaches the clinical assessment of late-life depression and comorbid cognitive impairment. Cognitive risk factors for suicide are discussed. Research is then provided on neuropsychological changes associated with depression, discussing subjective cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia profiles. Additionally, literature regarding neuroimaging and biomarker findings in depressed older adults is presented. Finally, therapeutic models for treatment of late-life depression are also discussed, including psychotherapy models, holistic treatments, pharmacologic approaches, and brain-stimulation therapies.

Psychosocial Treatment Options for Major Depressive Disorder in Older Adults

Late-life depression (LLD) is a public health concern with deleterious effects on overall health, cognition, quality of life, and mortality. Although LLD is relatively common, it is not a normal part of aging and is often under-recognized in older adults. However, psychotherapy is an effective treatment for LLD that aligns with many patients' preferences and can improve health and functioning. This review synthesized the current literature on evidence-based psychotherapies for the treatment of depression in older adults. Findings suggest that active, skills-based psychotherapies (cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT] and problem-solving therapy [PST]) may be more effective for LLD than non-directive, supportive counseling. PST may be particularly relevant for offsetting skill deficit associated with LLD, such as in instances of cognitive impairment (especially executive dysfunction) and disability. Emerging treatments also consider contextual factors to improve treatment delivery, such as personalized care, access, and poverty. Tele-mental health represents one such exciting new way of improving access and uptake of treatment by older adults. Although these strategies hold promise, further investigation via randomized controlled trials and comparative effectiveness are necessary to advance our treatment of LLD. Priority should be given to recruiting and training the geriatric mental health workforce to deliver evidence-based psychosocial interventions for LLD.