Cognitive behavior therapy for late-life generalized anxiety disorder delivered by lay and expert providers has lasting benefits.

OBJECTIVE: Peaceful Living, a cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) for late-life generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), produced positive outcomes in GAD severity, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and mental health quality of life relative to usual care with treatment delivered by either bachelor-level lay providers (BLPs) or PhD-level expert providers (PLPs). We examined long-term maintenance of gains during 12 months following CBT for patients in this trial who received the intervention delivered by BLPs and PLPs and completed post-treatment assessments. METHODS: Participants were 112 older adults (mean age, 66.83 years) with GAD recruited from primary care who received CBT from BLPs (n = 52) or PLPs (n = 60) and completed post-treatment assessments. Assessments were given at post-treatment and at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Primary outcomes assessed long-term maintenance of gains in worry (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Severity Scale) and anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Anxiety Scale). Secondary outcomes assessed depression (Patient Health Questionnaire), mental health quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form - mental wellness scale), and sleep (Insomnia Severity Index). RESULTS: At 6- and 12-month follow-ups, post-treatment reductions in GAD severity, anxiety, depression, and improvements in mental health quality of life and sleep were maintained for patients in both groups. No differences were found, based on provider group. CONCLUSION: Treatment of late-life anxiety delivered by nonexpert lay providers working under supervision of licensed providers has lasting benefits. These findings support the potential of new models of care for older adults that may expand reach of mental health services. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Lay providers can deliver effective cognitive behavior therapy for older adults with generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: The Institute of Medicine recommends developing a broader workforce of mental health providers, including nontraditional providers, to expand services for older adults. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is effective for late-life generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), but no study has examined outcomes with delivery by lay providers working under the supervision of licensed providers. The current study examined the effects of CBT delivered by lay, bachelor-level providers (BLP) relative to Ph.D.-level expert providers (PLP), and usual care (UC) in older adults with GAD. METHODS: Participants were 223 older adults (mean age, 66.9 years) with GAD recruited from primary care clinics at two sites and assigned randomly to BLP (n = 76), PLP (n = 74), or UC (n = 73). Assessments occurred at baseline and 6 months. CBT in BLP and PLP included core and elective modules (3 months: skills training; 3 months: skills review) delivered in person and by telephone, according to patient choice. RESULTS: CBT in both BLP and PLP groups significantly improved GAD severity (GAD Severity Scale), anxiety (Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Anxiety Scale), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire), insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index), and mental health quality of life (Short-Form-12), relative to UC. Response rates defined by 20% reduction from pre- to posttreatment in at least three of four primary outcomes were higher for study completers in BLP and PLP relative to UC (BLP: 38.5%; PLP: 40.0%; UC: 19.1%). CONCLUSION: Lay providers, working under the supervision of licensed providers, can deliver effective CBT.

Treating late-life generalized anxiety disorder in primary care: an effectiveness pilot study.

To increase the sustainability of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in primary care for late-life anxiety, we incorporated nonexpert counselors, options for telephone meetings, and integration with primary care clinicians. This open trial examines the feasibility, satisfaction, and clinical outcomes of CBT delivered by experienced and nonexperienced counselors for older adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Clinical outcomes assessed worry (Penn State Worry Questionnaire), GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Severity Scale), and anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory and Structured Interview Guide for Hamilton Anxiety Scale). After 3 months of treatment, Cohen's d effect sizes for worry and anxiety ranged from 0.48 to 0.78. Patients treated by experienced and nonexperienced counselors had similar reductions in worry and anxiety, although treatment outcomes were more improved on the Beck Anxiety Inventory for experienced therapists. Preliminary results suggest that adapted CBT can effectively reduce worry. The piloted modifications can provide acceptable and feasible evidence-based care.

Case-based audit and feedback around a decision aid improved antibiotic choice and duration for uncomplicated cystitis in primary care clinics.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of a multifaceted stewardship intervention on adherence to the evidence-based practice guidelines on treatment of uncomplicated cystitis in primary care. We hypothesised that our intervention would increase guideline adherence in terms of antibiotic choice and duration of treatment. DESIGN: A preintervention and postintervention comparison with a contemporaneous control group was performed. During the first two study periods, we obtained baseline data and performed interviews exploring provider prescribing decisions for cystitis at both clinics. During the third period in the intervention clinic only, the intervention included a didactic lecture, a decision algorithm and audit and feedback. We used a difference-in-differences analysis to determine the effects of our intervention on the outcome and guideline adherence to antibiotic choice and duration. SETTING: Two family medicine clinics (one intervention and one control) were included. PARTICIPANTS: All female patients with uncomplicated cystitis attending the study clinics between 2016 and 2019. RESULTS: Our sample included 932 visits representing 812 unique patients with uncomplicated cystitis. The proportion of guideline-adherent antibiotic regimens increased during the intervention period (from 33.2% (95% CI 26.9 to 39.9) to 66.9% (95% CI 58.4 to 74.6) in the intervention site and from 5.3% (95% CI 2.3 to 10.1) to 17.0% (95% CI 9.9 to 26.6) in the control site). The increase in guideline adherence was greater in the intervention site compared with the control site with a difference-in-differences of 22 percentage points, p=0.001. CONCLUSION: A multifaceted intervention increased guideline adherence for antibiotic choice and duration in greater magnitude than similar trends at the control site. Future research is needed to facilitate scale-up and sustainability of case-based audit and feedback interventions in primary care.

Qualitative Analysis of Primary Care Provider Prescribing Decisions for Urinary Tract Infections.

Inappropriate choices and durations of therapy for urinary tract infections (UTI) are a common and widespread problem. In this qualitative study, we sought to understand why primary care providers (PCPs) choose certain antibiotics or durations of treatment and the sources of information they rely upon to guide antibiotic-prescribing decisions. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 PCPs in two family medicine clinics focused on antibiotic-prescribing decisions for UTIs. Our interview guide focused on awareness and familiarity with guidelines (knowledge), acceptance and outcome expectancy (attitudes), and external barriers. We followed a six-phase approach to thematic analysis, finding that many PCPs believe that fluoroquinolones achieve more a rapid and effective control of UTI symptoms than trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or nitrofurantoin. Most providers were unfamiliar with fosfomycin as a possible first-line agent for the treatment of acute cystitis. PCPs may be misled by advanced patient age, diabetes, and recurrent UTIs to make inappropriate choices for the treatment of acute cystitis. For support in clinical decision making, few providers relied on guidelines, preferring instead to have decision support embedded in the electronic medical record. Knowing the PCPs' knowledge gaps and preferred sources of information will guide the development of a primary care-specific antibiotic stewardship intervention for acute cystitis.

Less workup, longer treatment, but no clinical benefit observed in women with diabetes and acute cystitis.

AIMS: There is a lack of evidence on the optimal approach for treating acute cystitis in women with diabetes. We performed an outpatient database study to compare management of women with and without diabetes and to assess the effect of treatment duration on early and late recurrence. METHODS: We used the EPIC Clarity database (electronic medical record system) to identify all female patients aged ≥18years with acute cystitis in two family medicine clinics and a urology department. An index case was defined as the first cystitis episode during the study period (2011-2014) with follow-up data of at least 12months. Recurrence was defined as a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) episode, plus a new prescription for an antibiotic, between 6 and 29days (early), or between 30days and 12months (late). RESULTS: We included 2327 visits for cystitis representing 1845 unique patients. Women with diabetes and acute cystitis were less likely to receive urinary tests to work up cystitis, and received significantly longer treatment courses of antibiotics. There was a higher risk of early recurrence in women with treatment duration >5days (odds ratio 2.17, 95% confidence interval 1.07-4.41) in multivariate analyses. Longer treatment was not associated with late UTI recurrence. Presence of diabetes, and Charlson comorbidity score were independent determinants of late recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Longer treatment of cystitis was not associated with lower recurrence rates. This calls into question whether many episodes of diabetic cystitis may be managed with a short course of antibiotics, as for uncomplicated disease.