HEPPI: Efficacy of a Cognitive-Emotional Intervention for Homebound Older Adults

Overview

The main goal of this research is to assess the efficacy of a 10-week home-delivered cognitive-emotional intervention program for homebound older adults presenting Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and depressive and/or anxiety symptoms. The Homebound Elderly People Psychotherapeutic Intervention (HEPPI) combines cognitive training, psychotherapeutic techniques, and compensatory strategy training, and was designed to optimize memory function and to reduce depressive or anxious symptomatology of these older adults. A two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) is conducted to investigate the efficacy of the HEPPI among the homebound older population.

The present study aims to assess the efficacy of a cognitive-emotional intervention (the HEPPI program) for homebound older adults with MCI and depressive and/or anxious symptomatology. The research design of the trial followed the methodological recommendations for conducting goropsychoterapy research. Moreover, a pilot RCT was conducted prior to the present RCT, in order to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the HEPPI. Appropriate adjustments to the HEPPI protocol were carried out considering the results. The present study is a two-arm RCT comparing the intervention condition (HEPPI) to a treatment as usual (TAU) control group. The sample includes community-dwelling older adults who do not leave home more often than once a week. Homebound older adults are recruited from the community through contact with their health care networks. A minimum number of 79 participants per condition will be required (N=158). Accounting for an expected 20% attrition rate, an anticipated sample of 198 participants will be enrolled in the study. Participants who demonstrate interest in the study are informed of the goals and procedures of the research and asked to provide informed consent before eligibility assessment. Eligible participants are randomly assigned to the HEPPI or the TAU group. Homebound older adults are asked to complete baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up assessments. Assessments include neuropsychological tests to assess cognition function, psychological health, subjective memory complaints, quality of life, functional status, perceived loneliness, and personality. The study procedures take place at the participants' homes.