Correlates of neurocognitive performance in older adults with chronic pain and negative emotions: baseline data from the problem adaptation therapy for pain (PATH-pain) randomized controlled trial.

Chronic pain is highly prevalent among older adults, is associated with cognitive deficits, and is commonly treated in primary care. We sought to document the extent of impairment across specific neurocognitive domains and its correlates among older adults with chronic pain in primary care. We analyzed baseline data from the Problem Adaptation Therapy for Pain trial, which examined a psychosocial intervention to improve emotion regulation in 100 adults ≥ 60 years with comorbid chronic pain and negative emotions, who did not have evidence of moderate-to-severe cognitive impairment.

Increasing Completion of Daily Patient-Reported Outcomes in Psychotherapies for Late-Life Depression through User-Centered Design.

Background:  Treatment of depressive symptoms in older adults is a growing public health concern. Collecting patient-reported outcomes (PROs) may facilitate efficiently scaling psychotherapy for older adults but user-specific tailoring is needed to improve completion.

Objectives:  This study investigates (1) the effect of updating PRO collection tools for middle-aged and older adults with depressive symptoms through a user-centered design process on user completion of PRO questions, (2) what sociodemographic factors correspond with participant completion, and (3) how completion of PRO questions change during the course of a psychotherapy intervention.

The Promise of Ecological Momentary Assessment to Improve Depression Management for Older Adults in Primary Care.

Among older adults, depression is a common, morbid, and costly disorder. Older adults with depression are overwhelmingly treated by primary care providers with poor rates of remission and treatment response, despite attempts to improve care delivery through behavioral health integration and care management models. Given one in 10 older adults in primary care settings meet criteria for depression, there is a pressing need to improve the efficacy of depression treatment among affected individuals.