A Modified Behavioral Activation Treatment for Geriatric Depressive Symptoms in Left-behind Elderly in Rural China

Central South University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Depression; Health Behavior

Treatments: Behavioral: Behavioral Activation Treatment

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02785211

S181

Details and patient eligibility

About

Background: It is essential to understand how to prevent and treat the epidemic of depression. Several studies have reported the prevalence of depressive symptoms in the urban population in China, but there is a lack of information regarding intervention for depression in rural left behind old elderly people.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a Modified Behavioral Activation Treatment (MBAT) Intervention on reducing depressive symptoms in rural left behind elderly people.

Methods: 80 rural left behind elderly people who had a Geriatric Depression Scale(GDS) score between 11 and 25 will be recruited and randomly assigned to the intervention (n=40) and control group(n=40). The intervention group will be received both MBAT and treatment-as-usual for 8 weeks while the control group received treatment-as-usual. Both groups will be assessed with the GDS, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3 months post-intervention.

Significance: This is the first time BA psychotherapy will be used in China.The current study will develop an intention model based on the traditional BA and CBT. The recurrence and seriousness of depression symptoms may be reduced by the intervention program. We hope that MBAT in clients will provide a direction for the management of mental health in rural left-behind elders..

Enrollment: 80 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Over 65 years of age;
• Only one participant from each family;
• Left-behind for longer than 6 months;
• GDS score between 11 and 25.

Exclusion criteria

• Psychiatric and medical comorbidities that are potentially life threatening or expected to severely limit client participation or adherence;
• Those who are currently seeing a cognitive behavioral therapist, psychotherapist or counselor;
• People unable to understand and fill out the questionnaires.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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80 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Behavioral Activation Treatment

Experimental group

Description:

The modified model will be provided weekly to four groups for intervention, each group including about 10 participants with 1 facilitator for a period of 8 weeks after the baseline survey and general introduction. Each of the 8-week sessions will last for 2 hours. Groups 1 to 4 will have sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays respectively; four groups will meet on the same day of the week for all 8 weeks. The scheduling and timing of intervention provide consistency of scheduling for participants.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Behavioral Activation Treatment

control group

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

For the control group, participants will receive regular physical examinations and education by village doctors weekly during the 8 week intervention.The weekly visits for every old people whose age above 65 by country doctors are not arranged by our study, it is the country doctors" routine work by government health policy. This study was permitted by the local community health center, the director with specific responsibility will inform all country doctors to support our study.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Behavioral Activation Treatment