A randomized study on the effect of modified behavioral activation treatment for depressive symptoms in rural left-behind elderly. (4th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xie, Jianfei; He, Guoping; Ding, Siqing; Pan, Chen; Zhang, Xia; Zhou, Jianda; Iennaco, Joanne Desanto
• Is Part Of: Psychotherapy research. Volume 29:Number 3(2019)
• Page Start: 372
• Page End: 382
• Publication Date: 2019-05-04
• Subjects: behavioral activation -- depression -- old age -- randomized controlled trial; attivazione comportamentale -- età anziana -- studio controllato randomizzato; 行為活化 -- 憂鬱 -- 老年 -- 隨機控制式試驗; Ativação comportamental -- depressão -- idosos -- ensaio clínico randomizado; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Research -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Psychothérapie -- Périodiques; Psychothérapie -- Recherche -- Périodiques; 616.891405
• DOI: 10.1080/10503307.2017.1364444
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1050-3307

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a modified behavioral activation treatment (MBAT) intervention on reducing depressive symptoms in rural left-behind elderly. Method: This is a randomized study registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IOR-17011289). Eighty rural left-behind elderly people who had a Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score between 11 and 25 were randomly assigned to the intervention ( n = 40) and control group ( n = 40). The intervention group received both MBAT and regular treatment for 8 weeks while the control group received regular treatment. Both groups were assessed with the GDS, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 3 months post-intervention. Results: There were a total of 73 participants that completed the intervention. The scores of GDS and BAI decreased significantly, but the scores of OHQ increased significantly in the intervention group after 8 sessions of MBAT ( P < .01). The reduction in depression symptoms after the intervention was maintained at the 3-month follow-up. Significant differences in GDS, BAI, and OHQ scores were observed between the intervention group and the control group ( P < .01). Conclusion: MBAT produced a significantly greater reduction in depressive symptoms than regular care in rural left-behind elderly. Clinical or methodological significance of this article: A modified behavioral activation (BA) psychotherapy can significantly reduce the recurrence and seriousness of depression symptoms in the left-behind elderly with mild to moderate depression. This study also suggests that further study of the MBAT as an intervention will provide a direction for the management of mental health in rural left-behind elders.