Development of an audio and computer cognitive behavioral therapy for depression in older adults.

Background: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the development of two novel technology-based interventions for depression in older adults while comparing older adults' preferences for audio-based and computer-based cognitive behavioral therapy for depressive symptoms. The audio program consisted of eight compact discs and a workbook while the computer program consisted of 11 modules of similar duration provided on a tablet PC. Both interventions consisted of the following topics: 1) introduction, 2) identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts, 3) addressing feelings, 4) relaxation, 5) engaging in pleasant events, 6) assertiveness, and 7) problem-solving. Methods: Fifty-one older adults were recruited from medical settings and rural communities and randomly assigned to an immediate treatment group (computer or audio) with minimal contact or a four-week minimal contact delayed treatment control condition. Results: Participants rated computer-based and audio-based cognitive behavioral therapy fairly equally, with 75% of those who received audio treatment and 85% of those who received computer-based treatment indicating benefits to their mood.Discussion: Computer-based or audio-based cognitive behavioral treatments may be valuable, low-cost modalities to deliver psychotherapy to older adults with depressive symptoms within a health care setting. Both modalities seem to be accepted by older adults.

Gerontological social work and cardiac rehabilitation.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a setting in which integrating social work services can benefit older adults. Many cardiac rehabilitation patients endorse symptoms of stress and depression following a cardiac event, impeding their ability to participate fully in cardiac rehabilitation services or recover from a heart attack. Gerontologically trained social workers can improve the care of older adults with heart disease in a variety of ways and this paper discusses the potential roles social workers can play in enhancing care. Two examples demonstrating how community academic partnerships can lead to improved options for older adults following a heart attack are discussed. First, using a microsystems approach, social workers embedded within cardiac rehabilitation may improve patient quality of life, address social service needs, provide mental health treatment, and assist in the completion of standard cardiac rehabilitation assessments. Second, using a macrosystems approach, social workers can help communities by developing partnerships to establish infrastructure for new cardiac rehabilitation clinics that are integrated with mental health services in rural areas. Social workers can serve an important role in addressing the psychological or social service needs of cardiac rehabilitation patients while increasing access to care.

Audio and Computer Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

The purpose of this study was to develop and explore the feasibility of audio-based (ACBT) and computer-based (CCBT) cognitive behavioral therapies for older adults with depressive symptoms. The audio program consisted of 8 compact discs and a workbook while the computer program consisted of 11 modules of similar duration provided on a tablet PC. Both interventions consisted of the following topics: identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts, addressing feelings, relaxation, engaging in pleasant events, assertiveness, and problem-solving. Fifty-one older adults were recruited from medical settings and rural communities. Participants were randomly assigned to immediate treatment (ACBT or CCBT) or delayed treatment control condition. Analyses were conducted to examine change on interviewer-based and self-reported depression. A significant interaction effect between time and condition was found on the interviewer-based depression scale. This suggests that both types of treatments decreased depressive symptoms over time when compared to a delayed treatment control. Computer-based and audio-based cognitive behavioral treatments may be valuable low-cost modalities to deliver psychotherapy to older adults with depressive symptoms.

Diabetes, Depression, and Cognition: a Recursive Cycle of Cognitive Dysfunction and Glycemic Dysregulation.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The study aims to examine the effects of diabetes and depression on executive functioning (EF) and to review the effects of EF deficits on diabetes management. RECENT FINDINGS: Both type 2 diabetes and depression influence EF, and in turn, EF has an impact on diabetes management. Individuals with both comorbidities (i.e., diabetes and depression) experience greater deficits in EF than individuals with just one of the morbidities (i.e., depression or diabetes). The disruption in EF results in poor diabetes management and poor emotion regulation which ultimately increases the probability of a recursive cycle of depression and hyperglycemia. This recursive cycle can ultimately lead to diabetes-related complications.

Hearing and quality of life in older adults.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed quality of life (QoL) in older adults with and without hearing loss (HL) and studied how hearing aids were associated with QoL. We hypothesized participants with normal hearing would have significantly better QoL than participants with HL and hearing aids, and participants with HL but no aids would have the worst QoL. METHOD: At the University of Alabama and rural public health departments in surrounding counties, we tested 100 males and females aged 60-87 using pure-tone audiometry. They completed Short Form-36 and Medical Outcome Study assessments. We analyzed data with MANCOVA (covariate income). RESULTS: Participants without hearing aids had significantly poorer QoL than participants with normal hearing, who did not significantly differ from participants with aids. General health drove the difference. CONCLUSIONS: Hearing aids are associated with better QoL than having HL and going without aids. Clinical psychologists can improve coping among those with HL and motivate hearing aid use.

Older adults' attitudes toward depression screening in primary care settings and exploring a brief educational pamphlet.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess older adults' (OAs') attitudes toward depression screening in primary care settings with a survey and explore the impact of an educational pamphlet on these attitudes. METHODS: Older adults above age 55 (N = 140) were randomly stratified by sex to an intervention or control group. The study included a baseline assessment, posttest, the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form, a two-page pamphlet on health and mood, and a 10-question quiz. RESULTS: On the basis of survey responses, most participants (93.6%) were willing to complete a depression screen at their doctor's office, and 92.1% perceived depression screening as valuable to their health care. Participants rated the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form positively. The survey also provided information on how screening could be conducted in primary care settings to maximize OAs' comfort. Participants preferred screening in the waiting room or examination room instead of the nurse's station. Those receiving the pamphlet became significantly more willing to be screened for depression than those who did not, F(1, 134) = 4.47, p = 0.04. CONCLUSION: Most OAs appear receptive to completing a depression screen in primary care settings. Educating OAs about the value of depression screening and tailoring recognition systems to account for preferences may be an initial step in improving recognition rates. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effects of Integrated Telehealth-Delivered Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Depression and Insomnia in Rural Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: We examined the effects of integrated cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression and insomnia (CBT-D + CBT-I) delivered via videoconferening in rural, middle aged and older adults with depressive and insomnia symptoms. METHOD: Forty patients with depressive and insomnia symptoms were randomized to receive either 10 sessions of CBT-D + CBT-I or usual care (UC). Patients in the integrated CBT condition were engaged in telehealth treatment through Skype at their primary care clinic. Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: CBT-D +CBT-I participants had significantly greater improvements in sleep at post-treatment and 3-month follow-up as compared to the UC participants. The time by group interaction for depression was not significant; both the CBT-D + CBT-I and UC conditions had a decrease in depressive symptoms over time. CONCLUSION: While integrated CBT benefits both depression and insomnia symptoms, its effects on depression are more equivocal. Further research should consider expanding the depression treatment component of integrated CBT to enhance effectiveness.

An Exploration of the Associations Among Hearing Loss, Physical Health, and Visual Memory in Adults From West Central Alabama.

Purpose: The purpose of this preliminary study was to explore the associations among hearing loss, physical health, and visual memory in adults living in rural areas, urban clusters, and an urban city in west Central Alabama. Method: Two hundred ninety-seven adults (182 women, 115 men) from rural areas, urban clusters, and an urban city of west Central Alabama completed a hearing assessment, a physical health questionnaire, a hearing handicap measure, and a visual memory test. Results: A greater number of adults with hearing loss lived in rural areas and urban clusters than in an urban area. In addition, poorer physical health was significantly associated with hearing loss. A greater number of individuals with poor physical health who lived in rural towns and urban clusters had hearing loss compared with the adults with other physical health issues who lived in an urban city. Poorer hearing sensitivity resulted in poorer outcomes on the Emotional and Social subscales of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults. And last, visual memory, a working-memory task, was not associated with hearing loss but was associated with educational level. Conclusions: The outcomes suggest that hearing loss is associated with poor physical and emotional health but not with visual-memory skills. A greater number of adults living in rural areas experienced hearing loss compared with adults living in an urban city, and consequently, further research will be necessary to confirm this relationship and to explore the reasons behind it. Also, further exploration of the relationship between cognition and hearing loss in adults living in rural and urban areas will be needed.

Effects of Home-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Depression on Anxiety Symptoms among Rural, Ethnically Diverse Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: We examined the effects of home-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression on anxiety symptoms in an ethnically diverse, low resource, and medically frail sample of rural, older adults. METHOD: This was a secondary analysis of a randomized clincial trial with 134 rural-dwelling adults 65 years and older with decreased quality of life and elevated psychological symptomatology. Anxiety symptoms were assessed with the anxiety and phobic anxiety subscales of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). RESULTS: Compared to a minimal support control condition, CBT for depression resulted in significantly greater improvements in symptoms of anxiety and phobic anxiety from pre-treatment to post-treatment. CONCLUSION: Home-delivered CBT for depression can be an effective treatment for anxiety in a hard-to-reach older populations. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Additional research should explore integrated anxiety and depression protocols and other treatment modalities, including bibliotherapy or telehealth models of CBT, to reduce costs associated with its in home delivery. Flexibility in administration and adaptations to the CBT protocol may be necessary for use with vulnerable, rural older adults.

The role of interpersonal sensitivity, social support, and quality of life in rural older adults.

The mental health of elderly individuals in rural areas is increasingly relevant as populations age and social structures change. While social support satisfaction is a well-established predictor of quality of life, interpersonal sensitivity symptoms may diminish this relation. The current study extends the findings of Scogin et al by investigating the relationship among interpersonal sensitivity, social support satisfaction, and quality of life among rural older adults and exploring the mediating role of social support in the relation between interpersonal sensitivity and quality of life (N = 128). Hierarchical regression revealed that interpersonal sensitivity and social support satisfaction predicted quality of life. In addition, bootstrapping resampling supported the role of social support satisfaction as a mediator between interpersonal sensitivity symptoms and quality of life. These results underscore the importance of nurses and allied health providers in assessing and attending to negative self-perceptions of clients, as well as the perceived quality of their social networks.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Therapeutic Intervention for Nursing Home Residents With Dementia and Depressive Symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to conduct a randomized controlled trial of a nursing home intervention to reduce depressive symptoms in residents with dementia. METHOD: The multicomponent intervention included group activity sessions, which used question-asking-reading (QAR), reminiscence, and cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques, as well as environmental supports and individualized behavioral activity programs. Fifty-one residents from five nursing homes participated in the study. RESULTS: A significant difference in depressive symptoms was found, with residents in the QAR-Depression condition showing improvement compared with those in the treatment as usual condition. Residents in the treatment group also exhibited significantly higher levels of expressive verbalizations, engagement with materials, and laughter. Few differences in resident behavior occurring outside of the group activities were noted. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest that structured group activities can positively impact a resident's psychological well-being. In addition, the QAR structure may be suitable for older adults with cognitive impairment by distributing group tasks and providing external cognitive supports.

Affective mediators of the association between pleasant events and global sleep quality in community-dwelling adults.

This study explored the association of engagement in pleasant events and global sleep quality, as well as examined the intermediary roles of positive affect and depressive symptoms in this association. Data were derived from the Midlife in the United States-II study. The sample consisted of 1054 community-dwelling adults. Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and indicated the frequency and enjoyableness of experiences on a positive events scale. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Positive affect was measured using the Mood and Symptoms Questionnaire. Regression analyses indicated more frequent engagement in pleasant events was associated with better global sleep quality. Depressive symptoms, but not positive affect, partially mediated the association between pleasant events and global sleep quality. The findings suggest that behavioral engagement in pleasant events may be related to global sleep quality via depressive symptoms, but not positive affect. These findings highlight the potential for engagement in pleasant activities to influence both mood and sleep.

Effect of individualized social activities on quality of life among older adults with mild to moderate cognitive impairment in a geriatric psychiatry facility.

OBJECTIVES: The study examined the effect of an individualized social activities intervention (ISAI) on quality of life among older adults with mild to moderate cognitive impairment in a geriatric psychiatry facility. METHOD: This randomized control trial consisted of 52 older adults (M = 70.63, SD = 5.62) with mild to moderate cognitive impairment in a geriatric inpatient psychiatry facility. A 2 (group condition) × 2 (time of measurement) design was used to compare the control (treatment-as-usual) and intervention (treatment-as-usual plus ISAI) conditions at pre- and post-treatment. ISAI consisted of 30- to 60-minute sessions for up to 15 consecutive days. The Dementia Quality of Life instrument and Neurobehavioral Rating Scale-Revised were used to examine quality of life and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia at pre- and post-treatment. RESULTS: Intent-to-treat analyses indicated a significant time × group condition interaction on quality of life, with this effect remaining when only completer data were included. There was no evidence of a significant treatment effect on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that individualized social activities are a promising treatment for cognitively impaired geriatric inpatients.

Pleasant Events, Hopelessness, and Quality of Life in Rural Older Adults.

PURPOSE: Rural older adults are susceptible to depression and reduced quality of life. This study explored contrasting explanations (behavioral vs cognitive route) for the relation of emotional distress with quality of life. METHODS: This retrospective study included rural older adults (N = 134) with reduced quality of life and increased psychological symptoms. Multiple mediation analysis was conducted to test the indirect effect of engagement in pleasant events and hopelessness on the emotional distress and quality of life relation. FINDINGS: Both engagement in pleasant events and hopelessness were found to partially mediate the relation between emotional distress and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Targeting both hopelessness and engagement in pleasant events may be helpful in improving the quality of life of vulnerable, rural older adults.

Health Care Communication and Agreement and Disagreement About Symptoms Within the Context of Multimorbidity.

Informal caregivers for older adults often act as medical 'proxies' based on their assumed knowledge of the care recipient's illness-related symptoms. Differences between symptom descriptions given by care recipients and caregivers, however, raise questions about the validity of proxy reports. Community-dwelling caregivers and their care recipients with chronic, multi-morbid conditions revealed similar numbers of symptoms reported as well as average symptom distress. Dyads with care recipients who scored higher on negative affect were more likely to have significantly lower. Results suggested the possibility of identifying and intervening with dyads who may be 'at-risk' for divergent symptom reporting. This awareness may increase the ability to engage in informed and shared medical decision making throughout the illness trajectory.

The Effect of Social Support on Quality of Life in Older Adults Receiving Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

The current study extends the findings of Scogin et al. (2007) by exploring the role of social support in changes in quality of life resulting from home-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). One hundred thirty-seven participants, characterized primarily as rural, low resource, and frail, were randomly assigned to either CBT or a minimal support control condition. Hierarchical regression revealed that positive change in satisfaction with social support was associated with improvement in quality of life beyond the effects of the CBT treatment. In addition, pretreatment satisfaction with social support, and change in satisfaction with social support moderated the effect of CBT on quality of life. These results suggest that bolstering social support concomitant to CBT may increase quality of life.

NEW AND EMERGING PROFESSIONALS: Does Race Moderate Social Support and Psychological Distress Among Rural Older Adults?

Greater social support is associated with decreased psychological distress among older adults. Researchers have found racial differences in psychological distress. Might race moderate social support and psychological distress? The authors hypothesized African American collectivistic values could increase the importance of social support. Participants were rural adults aged 60 and older (N = 100). Multiple regression analyses controlled for health, income, education, and sex. Race moderated satisfaction with social support and psychological distress. However, greater satisfaction predicted less psychological distress among Caucasians while it was not associated with African Americans' distress in this sample. Achieving satisfaction with social support may be particularly important for Caucasians receiving therapy. Interventions may also address strategies to improve physical health, emotional support, and quality of social support, which significantly predicted psychological distress for both groups.

Memory and cancer: a review of the literature.

The mental health of cancer survivors has not always been the primary emphasis of treatment protocols since physical health outcomes have taken precedence. Older cancer survivors experience a double jeopardy since they are at risk for memory impairments and mild cognitive impairment and because they are greater than 55 years of age. Of the 9.6 million cancer survivors in the US who have completed active treatment, many report cognitive difficulties, with labels such as "chemo brain," "not as sharp," "woolly-headedness," or the "mind does not work as quickly". To date, most of our knowledge of cognitive impairment in cancer survivors comes from female breast cancer survivors. Studies indicate that these survivors have diminished executive function, verbal memory, and motor function. Cancer survivors want to live independently in the community for as long as possible however, these cognitive deficits may prevent this desired lifestyle. To broaden our understanding this paper reviews the literature on the cognitive impairment and memory deficits experienced by three groups of cancer survivors breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer, that make up 60% of all survivors nationally. Even though mental health declined after a cancer diagnosis, the long-term outcomes of cancer survivors did not differ from persons without cancer in depression or cognitive function.

Do manualized treatments for depression reduce insomnia symptoms?

OBJECTIVE: Researchers evaluated the effect of manualized treatments for depression on comorbid symptoms of insomnia. METHOD: Hierarchical linear modeling was used to analyze archival data collected from 14 studies (N = 910) examining the efficacy of psychological treatments for depression in adults. RESULTS: Participants receiving a psychological treatment for depression experienced significantly more relief from symptoms of insomnia with overall, early-, middle-, and late-night sleep than those not receiving such treatment. CONCLUSION: Symptoms of insomnia in those with an average (or lower) level of depression can be reduced through psychological treatment for depression. However, more severe depressive symptoms do not receive great relief from sleep disturbance and may require an additional treatment component targeting symptoms of insomnia.