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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Computerised cognitive behavioural therapy for depression and anxiety with older people
— a pilot study to examine patient acceptability and treatment outcome | | Author(s) | William McMurchie, Fiona Macleod, Kevin Power |
| Journal title | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol 28, no 11, November 2013 |
| Publisher | Wiley Blackwell, November 2013 |
| Pages | pp 1147-1156 |
| Source | www.orangejournal.org |
| Keywords | Depression ; Anxiety ; Psychiatric treatment ; Therapy ; Behaviour modification ; Computers ; Pilot ; Projects ; Evaluation. |
| Annotation | The objective of the present study was to determine the acceptability and treatment outcome of using 'Beating the Blues' (BTB), a computerised cognitive behaviour therapy package, with older people aged 65 or over. Specific aims included identifying the treatment uptake and drop-out rate, and describing the role of basic demographics in therapy uptake. 58 participants experiencing symptoms of depression were given a free choice of receiving treatment as usual (TAU) plus BTB (TAU + BTB) or TAU alone. All participants completed demographic questionnaires and a range of outcome measures at baseline, two months after baseline (end of treatment) and three months after baseline (follow-up). 33 participants (56.9%) opted to receive BTB and reported having more experience and confidence using a computer than those who declined BTB. 24 participants (72.7%) went on to complete all eight BTB sessions. Statistical analysis found significant differences between the two treatment groups, with the TAU + BTB group showing greater improvements in their symptoms of depression and anxiety than the TAU group by the end of treatment and at follow-up. Furthermore, the TAU + BTB group had a significantly higher percentage of participants who met criteria for clinically significant improvement in their symptoms of depression by the end of treatment and at follow-up. Although further research is required, including a randomised controlled trial, the results of this initial pilot study provide evidence that BTB may offer an acceptable and effective treatment option for older people. (JL). |
| Accession Number | CPA-131018203 A |
| Classmark | ENR: ENP: LP: LO: LODM: 3O: 4UC: 3E: 4C |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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