scholarly journals Telephone-based Behavioral Activation with Mental Imagery for depression: a pilot randomized clinical trial in isolated older adults during the Covid-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johnny Pellas ◽  
Fritz Renner ◽  
Julie Lin Ji ◽  
Mattias Damberg
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trial ◽  
Mental Imagery ◽  
Treatment Condition ◽  
Behavioral Activation ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Increased Risk

ObjectivesTo shield vulnerable persons, particularly the eldery, during the Covid-19 pandemic governments around the world have adviced to use social distancing and self-isolation. Social isolation might put older adults at an increased risk for mental health problems such as depression. There is a need for brief, easy-accessible psychological treatments for depressive symptoms that can be delivered remotely. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of telephone-delivered Behavioral Activation with Mental Imagery for the treatment of depressive symptoms in individuals 65 years and older living in isolation during the covid-19-pandemic.MethodsIn this open-label pilot randomized clinical trial, N = 41 individuals aged 65 years or older with clinically significant symptoms of depression were randomly assigned to either a Behavioral Activation with Mental Imagery treatment condition, or an Attention-Assessment control condition delivered over the telephone over a four week period.ResultsDepressive symptoms decreased more in the treatment condition compared to the control condition. At post treatment 2 out of 16 participants in the treatment condition met diagnostic criteria for depression compared to 9 out of 13 in the control condition. Most participants in the treatment condition were satisfied with the treatment and few adverse effects were observed.ConclusionsThis pilot study suggests that behavioral activation with mental imagery delivered over the telephone is feasible, acceptable and potentially efficacious for the treatment of depressive symptoms in older individuals living in isolation. Replication in larger samples is needed.

scholarly journals Physical activity and depression in older adults with and without cognitive impairment

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kornanong Yuenyongchaiwat ◽  
Khajonsak Pongpanit ◽  
Somrudee Hanmanop
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Geriatric Depression Scale ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Increased Risk

ABSTRACT Low physical activity and depression may be related to cognitive impairment in the elderly. Objetive: To determine depression and physical activity (PA) among older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Methods: 156 older adults, both males and females, aged ≥60 years, were asked to complete the Thai Mini-Mental State Examination (Thai-MMSE), a global cognitive impairment screening tool. Seventy-eight older adults with cognitive impairment and 78 older adults without cognitive impairment were then separately administered two questionnaires (i.e., the Thai Geriatric Depression Scale; TGDS and Global Physical Activity Questionnaire; GPAQ). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk of developing cognitive impairment in the groups of older individuals with and without cognitive impairment. Results: A cross-sectional study of elderly with a mean age of 74.47 ± 8.14 years was conducted. There were significant differences on the depression scale and in PA between older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Further, participants with low PA and high level of depressive symptoms had an increased risk of cognitive impairment (Odds ratio = 4.808 and 3.298, respectively). Conclusion: Significant differences were noted in PA and on depression scales between older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Therefore, increased PA and decreased depressive symptoms (i.e., having psychological support) are suggested to reduce the risks of cognitive impairment in older adults.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of a Nurse-led Behavioral Activation Intervention in Hospitalized Depressed Elderly: a Pragmatic Cluster-randomized Clinical Trial.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frans Clignet ◽  
Annemieke van Straten ◽  
Pim Cuijpers ◽  
Berno van Meijel
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trial ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Behavioral Activation ◽  
Implementation Strategies ◽  
Control Unit ◽  
Experimental Unit ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Cluster Randomized

Abstract Background: Approximately 10% of the elderly suffer from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a nurse-led behavioral activation program (the Systematic Activation Method), in depressed elderly.Methods: A cluster-randomized clinical trial in which ten hospital units were randomized as either an experimental unit or control unit (care-as-usual). Data was collected at baseline (T0), eight weeks later (post intervention=T1), and six months later (follow-up=T2). Primary outcome was severity of depressive symptoms. For the analysis multilevel linear models were used. We calculated the size of the effects with Hedges’ g (and their 95% confidence intervals).Results: 55 patients were included (n=30 experimental, n=25 control). The results showed that there were moderate post-intervention effects of the Systematic Activation Program in the reduction of depressive symptoms (g=0.35), but these effects were not statistically significant.Conclusions: The inclusion of patients was lower than calculated in the power analysis. A more intensive focus on applying motivational techniques and tailored implementation strategies might increase treatment effects on the patients. Trial registration: Dutch Trial Register NTR 1809.

scholarly journals Changes in Health Behaviors, Mental and Physical Health among Older Adults under Severe Lockdown Restrictions during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 7067
Author(s):  
Esther García-Esquinas ◽  
Rosario Ortolá ◽  
Iago Gine-Vázquez ◽  
José A. Carnicero ◽  
Asier Mañas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Housing Conditions ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Lifestyle Risk Factors ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Lifestyle Risk

We used data from 3041 participants in four cohorts of community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years in Spain collected through a pre-pandemic face-to-face interview and a telephone interview conducted between weeks 7 to 15 after the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown. On average, the confinement was not associated with a deterioration in lifestyle risk factors (smoking, alcohol intake, diet, or weight), except for a decreased physical activity and increased sedentary time, which reversed with the end of confinement. However, chronic pain worsened, and moderate declines in mental health, that did not seem to reverse after restrictions were lifted, were observed. Males, older adults with greater social isolation or greater feelings of loneliness, those with poorer housing conditions, as well as those with a higher prevalence of chronic morbidities were at increased risk of developing unhealthier lifestyles or mental health declines with confinement. On the other hand, previously having a greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet and doing more physical activity protected older adults from developing unhealthier lifestyles with confinement. If another lockdown were imposed during this or future pandemics, public health programs should specially address the needs of older individuals with male sex, greater social isolation, sub-optimal housing conditions, and chronic morbidities because of their greater vulnerability to the enacted movement restrictions.

scholarly journals Effect of Aerobic Exercise Training and Essential Amino Acid Supplementation for 24 Weeks on Physical Function, Body Composition, and Muscle Metabolism in Healthy, Independent Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (10) ◽  
pp. 1598-1604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa M Markofski ◽  
Kristofer Jennings ◽  
Kyle L Timmerman ◽  
Jared M Dickinson ◽  
Christopher S Fry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trial ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Muscle Protein ◽  
Muscle Protein Synthesis ◽  
Before And After

Abstract Background Essential amino acids (EAA) and aerobic exercise (AE) acutely and independently stimulate skeletal muscle protein anabolism in older adults. Objective In this Phase 1, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial, we determined if chronic EAA supplementation, AE training, or a combination of the two interventions could improve muscle mass and function by stimulating muscle protein synthesis. Methods We phone-screened 971, enrolled 109, and randomized 50 independent, low-active, nonfrail, and nondiabetic older adults (age 72 ± 1 years). We used a 2 × 2 factorial design. The interventions were: daily nutritional supplementation (15 g EAA or placebo) and physical activity (supervised AE training 3 days/week or monitored habitual activity) for 24 weeks. Muscle strength, physical function, body composition, and muscle protein synthesis were measured before and after the 24-week intervention. Results Forty-five subjects completed the 24-week intervention. VO2peak and walking speed increased (p < .05) in both AE groups, irrespective of supplementation type, but muscle strength increased only in the EAA + AE group (p < .05). EAA supplementation acutely increased (p < .05) muscle protein synthesis from basal both before and after the intervention, with a larger increase in the EAA + AE group after the intervention. Total and regional lean body mass did not change significantly with any intervention. Conclusions In nonfrail, independent, healthy older adults AE training increased walking speed and aerobic fitness, and, when combined with EAA supplementation, it also increased muscle strength and EAA-stimulated muscle protein synthesis. These increases occurred without improvements in muscle mass.

scholarly journals Memory-Related Frontal Brainwaves Predict Transition to Mild Cognitive Impairment in Healthy Older Individuals Five Years Before Diagnosis

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Yang Jiang ◽  
Juan Li ◽  
Frederick A. Schmitt ◽  
Gregory A. Jicha ◽  
Nancy B. Munro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Differentiation Pattern

Background: Early prognosis of high-risk older adults for amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), using noninvasive and sensitive neuromarkers, is key for early prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. We have developed individualized measures in electrophysiological brain signals during working memory that distinguish patients with aMCI from age-matched cognitively intact older individuals. Objective: Here we test longitudinally the prognosis of the baseline neuromarkers for aMCI risk. We hypothesized that the older individuals diagnosed with incident aMCI already have aMCI-like brain signatures years before diagnosis. Methods: Electroencephalogram (EEG) and memory performance were recorded during a working memory task at baseline. The individualized baseline neuromarkers, annual cognitive status, and longitudinal changes in memory recall scores up to 10 years were analyzed. Results: Seven of the 19 cognitively normal older adults were diagnosed with incident aMCI for a median 5.2 years later. The seven converters’ frontal brainwaves were statistically identical to those patients with diagnosed aMCI (n = 14) at baseline. Importantly, the converters’ baseline memory-related brainwaves (reduced mean frontal responses to memory targets) were significantly different from those who remained normal. Furthermore, differentiation pattern of left frontal memory-related responses (targets versus nontargets) was associated with an increased risk hazard of aMCI (HR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.03, 2.08). Conclusion: The memory-related neuromarkers detect MCI-like brain signatures about five years before diagnosis. The individualized frontal neuromarkers index increased MCI risk at baseline. These noninvasive neuromarkers during our Bluegrass memory task have great potential to be used repeatedly for individualized prognosis of MCI risk and progression before clinical diagnosis.

scholarly journals The Impact of Levothyroxine on Cardiac Function in Older Adults With Mild Subclinical Hypothyroidism: A Randomized Clinical Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (7) ◽  
pp. 848-856.e5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baris Gencer ◽  
Elisavet Moutzouri ◽  
Manuel R. Blum ◽  
Martin Feller ◽  
Tinh-Hai Collet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Cardiac Function ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trial ◽  
Subclinical Hypothyroidism ◽  
The Impact
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document