Therapy for Depressed Elders With Thought Problems

Phase 3

Completed

• Conditions: Cognition Disorders; Depression
• Interventions: Behavioral: Problem Solving Therapy; Behavioral: Brief Supportive Therapy

• Registration Number: NCT00052091
• Lead Sponsor: University of Washington

Brief Summary

This study will compare the effectiveness of Problem Solving Therapy and Brief Supportive Therapy in treating elderly patients with major depression and thought problems.

Detailed Description

Patients who suffer from a combination of major depression and executive dysfunction symptoms often respond poorly to treatment with antidepressants. It is important, therefore, to find effective alternative therapies to treat these symptoms.

Patients are randomly assigned to receive 12 sessions (1 session/week for 12 weeks) of either PST or BST. Following treatment, patients are followed for 6 months to determine functional and clinical outcomes. Depression scales, disability scales, and scales that measure problem solving skills are used to assess patients.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2002-09
• Study First Submitted: 2003-01-22
• Study First Submitted QC: 2003-01-22
• Study First Posted: 2003-01-23
• Primary Completion: 2008-03
• Study Completion: 2008-03
• Status Verified: 2018-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2018-01-25
• Last Update Posted: 2018-01-29

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 221

Inclusion Criteria

• Nonpsychotic, unipolar major depression
• Cognitive impairment
• English speaking

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Exclusion Criteria

• High suicide risk
• Dementia
• Acute or severe medical illness
• Current psychotherapy

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
1 Problem Solving Therapy	Problem Solving Therapy	12 weekly sessions of problem solving therapy (PST)
2 Brief Supportive Therapy	Brief Supportive Therapy	12 weekly sessions of brief supportive therapy (BST)

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression	Measured at screening, weeks 1 through 12, and week 36

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Weill Medical College of Cornell University; 🇺🇸 White Plains, New York, United States

University of California at San Francisco; 🇺🇸 San Francisco, California, United States