Group talk therapy for adults 75 and older with distress, tested in a trial

Symptoms of depression and anxiety are common in older adults, and high suicide rates are observed in this age group in Sweden, as in many countries around the globe. Ageing is accompanied by an increased risk of pain, grief, loss, loneliness, cognitive decline and reduced functional ability, all of which may impact on mental health. Despite these facts, older adults are less likely than their younger counterparts to receive care for their mental health problems.

Within primary care, many older adults with symptoms of depression and anxiety do not fully meet diagnostic criteria for clinical diagnosis. However, these subthreshold states, often conceptualized as "psychological distress" are associated with emotional suffering, reduced quality of life and compromised function in daily life. Psychological distress, which is mainly treated in primary care, has been shown to increase after the age of 65, and to peak at ages 80-89. This points to a need for effective interventions for older adults in primary care to reduce the risk of developing clinical depression and anxiety disorders.

The overall aim of this clinical study is to evaluate, using a randomized control trial design (RCT), an existential psychological group treatment for older adults (75+) with psychological distress in a primary care setting. Research persons randomized to the control arm will receive supportive telephone calls.

Specific research aims include:

• Do older adults show a) decreased psychological distress, b) decreased experiential avoidance, as well as c) improved quality of life after taking part in existential psychological group treatment? Do those randomized to group treatment have significantly better outcomes compared to those randomized to weekly supportive telephone calls? If so, are the positive effects maintained over time?
• Is experiential avoidance a mediator in the (potential) reduction of psychological distress?
• Are there any side effects of existential group treatment/supportive telephone calls?
• Is an existential psychological group treatment for older adults feasible, based on its fidelity?
• What are older adults' experiences of participating in the existential psychological group treatment/weekly supportive telephone calls?