Mental Health Intervention for Elderly Abuse Victims

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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There is no current elder abuse service that systematically assesses and provides services to address the mental health needs of older adult abuse victims. The proposed study will investigate the efficacy of a skill-based, mental health intervention to help treat elder abuse victims, bolster mental health outcomes, and improve detection of symptomatology in future screenings.

Detailed Description
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Despite increasing recognition of the epidemic of elder abuse, we continue to face barriers helping abuse victims access and use elder abuse resolution services. In addition, many victims suffer from concurrent mental health problems that prevent them from taking the necessary steps to protect themselves. The proposed study will introduce a tailored intervention, built on an evidence-based approach (Problem Solving Therapy), to be delivered through a sustainable mental health program embedded in elder abuse services. The proposed psychotherapy is a brief 8-session weekly intervention that combines problem-solving therapy, anxiety management, and psycho education developed specifically for this population by this team. The objectives of the project are to: identify the mental health needs of elder abuse victims, provide the mental health treatment, assess the impact of the treatment, and facilitate conditions which will sustain the mental health program.

Official Title
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Mental Health Intervention for Elderly Abuse Victims: Providing Options to Elderly Clients Together (PROTECT)

Conditions
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Depression

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: PROTECT


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Client of the New York City Department for the Aging's (DFTA) Elderly Crime Victims Resource Center Score of 10 or higher on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) or Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) Exclusion Criteria: Co-morbid psychiatric disorder other than unipolar non-psychotic major depression that prevents participation in depression and anxiety screening Inability to speak or understand English Cognitive impairment that prevents participation in screening, as determined by screening social worker

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: PROTECT Intervention<br>Participants will receive a brief psychotherapy that builds on Problem Solving Therapy (PST) | Behavioral: PROTECT<br>* 8-session weekly psychotherapy intervention that combines problem-solving therapy, anxiety management and psycho education developed specifically for this population<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Depression (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale) | To document effectiveness of PROTECT intervention in reducing depressive symptoms. Severity of depression will be assessed at baseline and 12 weeks using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale as the primary measure. | 12 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Functioning (Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale) | To document effectiveness of PROTECT intervention in increasing quality of life, social interaction, and overall functioning. Severity will be assessed at baseline and 12 weeks using the Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale as the primary measure. | 12 weeks | 
| Service Utilization (specialized mistreatment and service outcome questionnaires) | To document effectiveness of PROTECT intervention in increasing clients' utilization of elder abuse services and subsequently reporting a reduction in abuse. Service utilization and severity of abuse will be assessed at baseline and 12 weeks using specialized mistreatment and service outcome questionnaires. | 12 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Elder abuse, Intervention, Treatment, Detection