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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2019 Nov;34(11):1715-1723.
doi: 10.1002/gps.5186. Epub 2019 Aug 8.

Lay-delivered behavioral activation for depressed senior center clients: Pilot RCT

Patrick J Raue  1 , Jo Anne Sirey  2 , Alexis Dawson  1 , Jaquelin Berman  3 , Martha L Bruce  4
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Lay-delivered behavioral activation for depressed senior center clients: Pilot RCT

Patrick J Raue et al. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2019 Nov.

Abstract

Objective: We describe the development of a lay-delivered behavioral intervention ("Do More, Feel Better") for depressed senior center clients, and we present preliminary data from a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) on (a) the feasibility of training lay volunteers to fidelity and (b) the acceptability, impact, and safety of the intervention.

Methods: We trained 11 volunteers at two aging service settings in "Do More, Feel Better" and randomized 18 depressed clients to receive the intervention or referral to mental health services.

Results: Pilot data indicated that we can successfully train and certify 64% of older volunteers and that depressed clients receiving the intervention reported high levels of session attendance and satisfaction. While there were no significant differences in 12-week reduction in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores between groups, intervention clients showed an 8-point reduction in comparison with a 0-point reduction among referral clients.

Conclusions: "Do More, Feel Better" has the potential of transferring evidence-based behavioral interventions to the hands of supervised lay volunteers and can address the insufficient workforce providing geriatric mental health services.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02292849.

Keywords: aging service settings; behavioral activation; depression; geriatrics; lay health workers; task-sharing.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Consort Chart for Pilot Trial of “Do More, Feel Better”
Figure 2
Figure 2
List of Pleasant and Rewarding Activities
Figure 3
Figure 3
Weekly Activity Scheduling
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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