Reaching and Engaging Depressed Senior Center Clients

Weill Medical College of Cornell University26 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility of one type of therapy session, Virtual Augmented Engage (Engage-A). The research is being done because the researchers are trying to learn if these approaches could be used by therapists in the community social service agencies to treat older adults with depression. The research will also measure clinician satisfaction after training and supervision of utilization of Engage-A.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Depression in Old Age

Interventions

Engage-ABEHAVIORAL

Therapist will encourage participants to engage in physical and social activities that are pleasurable or rewarding. Engage is a stepped care psychotherapy based on what is known about how older adults respond to depression interventions. Stepped care is a model of treatment that starts with the minimum effective therapeutic techniques first, and then based on how well people respond to treatment, additional therapeutic techniques are added until people are recovered from their depression.

Training and utilizing Engage-A therapyOTHER

Therapist will be trained in Engage-A therapy and given supervision while utilizing this therapy.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 55 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 55 years' old * PHQ-9 Score of ≥ 10 * English or Spanish speaking * MOCA ≥ 24 or mini-telephone MOCA ≥ 11 * Member of/attends one of the REDS Senior Centers * Capacity to provide written consent for both research assessment and the Engage-A intervention. Exclusion Criteria: * Current active suicidal ideation defined by MADRS Suicide Item ≥ 4 (probably better off dead. Suicidal thoughts are common, and suicide is considered as a possible solution, but without specific plans or intention). * Presence of psychiatric diagnoses other than unipolar, non-psychotic major depression or generalized anxiety disorder by SCID-IV. * Severe or life-threatening medical illness (e.g., end stage organ failure). * Currently seeing an individual psychotherapist \*(if individuals are willing to go on a hiatus from their individual psychotherapist for the 15 weeks of the study, and meet all inclusion criteria, they will be considered eligible).

Locations (1)

Weill Cornell Medicine

White Plains, New York, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Number of Virtual ENGAGE-A Participants Who Attend Every Scheduled Therapy Session

Number of Virtual ENGAGE-A Participants who Attend Every Scheduled Therapy Session

Time frame: 9 Weeks

Change in Average Satisfaction Score of Virtual ENGAGE-A Participants as Measured by the CSQ

The Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ) assesses the clients' satisfaction with the services they are receiving. The CSQ ranges from 1-4, with higher scores indicating higher satisfaction. Domain 1 scores range from 1-4, with higher scores indicating higher satisfaction with the program. Domain 2 scores range from 1-4, with higher scores indicating higher satisfaction with the services received. Domain 3 scores range from 1-4, with higher scores indicating higher likelihood of wanting to receive similar services in the future. Higher scores for all three domains indicate a better outcome.

Time frame: 6 weeks, 9 weeks, 12 weeks

Average Satisfaction Score of Community Clinicians (LCSW) as Measured by the TSQ

The Therapist Satisfaction Questionnaire (TSQ) assesses the therapists' satisfaction with the Alacrity therapy training and intervention. The TSQ ranges from 1-4, with higher scores indicating higher satisfaction. Domain 1 scores range from 1-4, with higher scores indicating higher satisfaction with the skills obtained through training. Domain 2 scores range from 1-4, with higher scores indicating higher satisfaction with the therapy type. Domain 3 scores range from 1-4, with higher scores indicating higher likelihood that the therapist would use this therapy in their own practice. Higher scores for all three domains indicate better outcomes.

Time frame: 2 years

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Depressive Symptoms of Virtual ENGAGE-A Participants as Measured by HAM-D

Hamilton Depression Rating Score (HAM-D) assesses the severity of depression in patients. The HAM-D ranges from 0 to 52, with higher scores indicating higher severity of depression.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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