Mobile CBT for Middle Aged and Older Adults

Launched by WEILL MEDICAL COLLEGE OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY · Mar 2, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a mobile app called MAYA, which helps middle-aged and older adults who are dealing with anxiety and depression. The app uses techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy to teach users coping skills that can improve their mood and reduce anxiety. Participants in the study will be asked to use the app for at least two days a week, spending about 20 minutes each time, over a period of six weeks. They will also have weekly check-ins and complete questionnaires at different points during the study to share how they are feeling and what they think about the app.

To be eligible for this study, participants need to be 40 years or older and have a primary diagnosis of anxiety or depression. They must also have access to an Apple iPhone and score a certain level on a mental status exam. However, people with a history of bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, or those currently receiving certain types of therapy or medication changes in the past three months are not eligible. Overall, this trial aims to see if using the MAYA app can help improve symptoms of anxiety and depression in a convenient way.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age 40 or older
• • Primary diagnosis of an anxiety or depressive disorder as determined by a clinical severity rating score of 4 or greater on the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule (ADIS).
• • Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) no more than 1 SD below the mean score for patient's age and education. If the remote version of the MMSE is used (e.g. during an evaluation on Zoom), the remote MMSE score will be converted to a standard MMSE score.
• • Access to an Apple iPhone
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Lifetime diagnosis of a bipolar or psychotic disorder.
• • Currently in cognitive behavior therapy.
• • Change in dose of a psychiatric medication in the past 12 weeks.
• • Initiation of psychotherapy in the past 12 weeks.
• • Intent or plan to attempt suicide.