The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Older Adults: a Feasibility Study

Launched by NKS OLAVIKEN GERONTOPSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL · Jan 15, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression are the most common mental health problems affecting older people, and are highly comorbid . The prevalence is high (greater than 25 %), with increasing prevalence for people with comorbid somatic disorders (greater than 40%). Evidence suggests that psychological treatment for older adults is as effective as for working-age adults and maybe even more effective in old adults with comorbid somatic disorders. Despite this, older adults are generally under-represented in psychological services.

Most older adults with emotional disorders receiv...

Gender

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Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Clinically significant symptoms of anxiety or depression based on self-report and clinical interview
• • Score on the MMSE-NR above 26 and competent to give informed consent as evaluated by a structural clinical assessment
• • Stable use of psychotropic medication for the last month. Periodic use of z-hypnotics is not exclusion criteria but will be restricted to a limited and pre-planned dosage per week. Stabilization of psychotropic medication can be offered to eligible patients before participation.
• • Prepared to share their challenges and work on maladaptive emotion regulation strategies in a group setting.
• • Able to attend most sessions.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Conditions requiring specialized treatment such as active psychosis and/or mania, untreated or unstable bipolar disorder, psychosis spectrum disorders or severe depressive episode
• • Acutely increased risk of suicide or deliberate self-harm
• • Dementia or amnestic mild cognitive impairment
• • Substance abuse including psychoactive drugs
• • Habitual use of prescribed anxiolytics or opiods. Help with gradual reduction and elimination before inclusion in treatment will be offered to potential participants
• • Uncorrected hearing loss
• • Symptoms of personality disorders that hinder participation in the group
• • Simultaneously participating in other psychotherapy
• • Living with ongoing highly social burden where greater flexibility in treatment is needed