Cognitive behavioural therapy and third-wave approaches for anxiety and related disorders in older people.

Background: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is the most researched psychological therapy for anxiety disorders in adults, and known to be effective in this population. However, it remains unclear whether these results apply to older adults, as most studies include participants between 18 and 55 years of age. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of the available evidence on CBT and third wave approaches for older adults with anxiety and related disorders.

Depressive symptomatology in older adults treated with behavioral activation: A network perspective.

Background: Late-life depression is a serious mental health problem. Behavioral Activation (BA) is an effective, accessible psychotherapeutic treatment for older adults. However, little is known about which symptoms decrease and how associations between depressive symptoms change during BA treatment.

Cost-effectiveness of behavioral activation compared to treatment as usual for depressed older adults in primary care: A cluster randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Depression in older adults is associated with decreased quality of life and increased utilization of healthcare services. Behavioral activation (BA) is an effective treatment for late-life depression, but the cost-effectiveness compared to treatment as usual (TAU) is unknown.

Methods: An economic evaluation was performed alongside a cluster randomized controlled multicenter trial including 161 older adults (≥65 years) with moderate to severe depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 10).

Functional improvement by behavioural activation for depressed older adults.

Background: Recovery in mental health care comprises more than symptomatic improvement, but preliminary evidence suggests that only collaborative care may improve functioning of depressed older adults. This study therefore evaluates the effectiveness of behavioural activation (BA) on functional limitations in depressed older adults in primary care.

Methods: This study uses data from a multicentre cluster randomised controlled trial in which 59 primary care centres (PCCs) were randomised to BA and treatment as usual (TAU), and 161 consenting older (≥65 years) adults with clinically relevant symptoms of depression participated.

Behavioural Activation versus Treatment as Usual for Depressed Older Adults in Primary Care: A Pragmatic Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Effective non-pharmacological treatment options for depression in older adults are lacking.

Objective: The effectiveness of behavioural activation (BA) by mental health nurses (MHNs) for depressed older adults in primary care compared with treatment as usual (TAU) was evaluated.

Methods: In this multicentre cluster-randomised controlled trial, 59 primary care centres (PCCs) were randomised to BA and TAU.

How Does Behavioural Activation Work? A Systematic Review of the Evidence on Potential Mediators.

Introduction: Behavioural activation is an effective treatment for depression, but little is known about its working mechanisms. Theoretically, its effect is thought to rely on an interplay between activation and environmental reward.

Objective: The present systematic review examines the mediators of behavioural activation for depression.

Behavioural activation by mental health nurses for late-life depression in primary care: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Depressive symptoms are common in older adults. The effectiveness of pharmacological treatments and the availability of psychological treatments in primary care are limited. A behavioural approach to depression treatment might be beneficial to many older adults but such care is still largely unavailable.