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» Go to news mainMedia release: Promising new treatment for older adults with depression and anxiety: Canadian study shows older adults experiencing depression, anxiety benefit from cognitive behavioural therapy tailored to their age group
Monday, Dec. 16, 2024 (Halifax) _ Many older adults will experience depression and anxiety, and often turn to standard forms of psychotherapy to improve their mental health. Yet, experts around the world have questioned whether the treatment could be more effective for older people if it was tailored to their specific needs.
A new study led by Canadian researchers that was recently published in International Psychogeriatrics examined whether a form of cognitive behavioural therapy customized for older adults (CBT-OA), could better address issues such as age-related changes of sensory deficits, frailty and mild cognitive impairment, as well as negative self-perceptions of aging.
Dr. Keri-Leigh Cassidy, senior author and a professor of psychiatry at Dalhousie University, developed CBT-OA by incorporating ‘positive psychiatry’ techniques to improve mood, counter negative attitudes toward aging, build on patient strengths, foster engagement and help patients change health behaviours.
Dr. Anna Skosireva, a researcher at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa, led this first replication study to evaluate the effect of CBT-OA. The research included 40 psychiatry outpatients over 65 years old with symptoms of late-life depression and/or anxiety.
Dr. Cassidy’s CBT-OA group treatment protocol was delivered between 2015 to 2019 in a series lasting up to nine weeks and involving six to nine participants per series. Results show that the CBT-OA protocol significantly improved participants' mood, anxiety and perceived quality of life, with the greatest gains in those under 78 years of age.
CBT-OA responds to the call for 'positive psychiatry in aging,’ to not only treat illness but to improve well-being and outlook as well. "We are very excited by these results," says Dr. Cassidy. "Not only do older adults respond in terms of their illness, but they also report an improved quality of life."
Dr. Cassidy is available to discuss the study findings.
Media contact:
Alison Auld
Senior Research Reporter
Dalhousie University
Cell: 1-902-220-0491
Email: alison.auld@dal.ca
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