Psychological Group Therapy Versus Supportive Calls for Older Adults Aged 75 and Over With Psychological Distress in Primary Care

What this Trial Is About

Older adults aged 75 and above often experience symptoms of depression and anxiety, alongside challenges such as pain, grief, loneliness, cognitive decline, and reduced daily functioning. These issues can lead to psychological distress, which is common in this age group but often goes untreated in primary care. This trial aims to evaluate an existential psychological group treatment designed specifically for older adults facing psychological distress, comparing it to supportive telephone calls within a primary care setting using a randomized controlled design. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups the experimental group will attend seven weekly existential group therapy sessions, each lasting 90 to 120 minutes, focusing on aging-related existential themes like loneliness and fear of death. The control group will receive brief supportive telephone calls once a week for seven weeks. Both groups will be evaluated at similar time points to compare effects and monitor any side effects. Therapists receive special training and sessions are recorded to ensure treatment fidelity. During the study, participants will complete assessments before, during, immediately after treatment, and at a three-month follow-up. These include measures of psychological distress, experiential avoidance, anxiety, depression, zest for life, sleep problems, and quality of life. Screening involves questionnaires and interviews to confirm eligibility. The study also includes focus group interviews to explore participants experiences. The total involvement covers the treatment period and follow-up assessments to understand the treatments impact over time.

Existential Group Treatment for Older Adults (75+) With Psychological Distress in Primary Care