Rob Saunders1, Joshua E J Buckman2, Joshua Stott3, Judy Leibowitz4, Elisa Aguirre5, Amber John3, Glyn Lewis6, John Cape7, Stephen Pilling8. 1. Centre for Outcomes Research and Effectiveness, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London, UK. Electronic address: r.saunders@ucl.ac.uk. 2. Centre for Outcomes Research and Effectiveness, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London, UK; iCope - Camden and Islington Psychological Therapies Services, Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. 3. ADAPT lab, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London, UK. 4. iCope - Camden and Islington Psychological Therapies Services, Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. 5. North East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. 6. Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, W1T 7NF, UK. 7. Centre for Outcomes Research and Effectiveness, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London, UK. 8. Centre for Outcomes Research and Effectiveness, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London, UK; Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust, St Pancras Hospital, 4 St Pancras Way, London, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Older adults commonly experience depression and anxiety, yet are under-represented in psychological treatment services. There is uncertainty about the outcomes from psychological therapies for older adults relative to working-age adults. This study explored: pre-treatment differences between older and working-age patients with depression or anxiety disorders; whether outcomes from psychological therapy differ between groups controlling for pre-treatment clinical severity, functioning, and socio-demographics; and whether the impact of a long-term health condition (LTC) on outcome differs by age. METHODS: Data on >100,000 patients treated with psychological therapies in eight Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services were analyzed. We compared pre-treatment characteristics and therapy outcomes for older (≥65 years) and working-age (18-64 years) patients, and investigated associations between age and outcomes. RESULTS: Older adults had less severe clinical presentations pre-treatment. In adjusted models older adults were more likely to reliably recover (OR=1.33(95%CI=1.24-1.43)), reliably improve (OR=1.34(95%CI =1.24-1.45)), and attrition was less likely (OR=0.48(95%CI =0.43-0.53)). Effects were more pronounced in patients with anxiety disorders compared to depression. Having an LTC was associated with a much lower likelihood of reliable recovery for working-age patients but had only a modest effect for older adults. LIMITATIONS: There are potential selection biases affecting the characteristics of older people attending these services. Residual confounding cannot be ruled out due to limits on data available. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults experienced better outcomes from psychological treatments than working-age adults. Given the deleterious effects if mental health conditions go untreated, increasing access to psychological therapies for older people should be an international priority.
BACKGROUND: Older adults commonly experience depression and anxiety, yet are under-represented in psychological treatment services. There is uncertainty about the outcomes from psychological therapies for older adults relative to working-age adults. This study explored: pre-treatment differences between older and working-age patients with depression or anxiety disorders; whether outcomes from psychological therapy differ between groups controlling for pre-treatment clinical severity, functioning, and socio-demographics; and whether the impact of a long-term health condition (LTC) on outcome differs by age. METHODS: Data on >100,000 patients treated with psychological therapies in eight Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services were analyzed. We compared pre-treatment characteristics and therapy outcomes for older (≥65 years) and working-age (18-64 years) patients, and investigated associations between age and outcomes. RESULTS: Older adults had less severe clinical presentations pre-treatment. In adjusted models older adults were more likely to reliably recover (OR=1.33(95%CI=1.24-1.43)), reliably improve (OR=1.34(95%CI =1.24-1.45)), and attrition was less likely (OR=0.48(95%CI =0.43-0.53)). Effects were more pronounced in patients with anxiety disorders compared to depression. Having an LTC was associated with a much lower likelihood of reliable recovery for working-age patients but had only a modest effect for older adults. LIMITATIONS: There are potential selection biases affecting the characteristics of older people attending these services. Residual confounding cannot be ruled out due to limits on data available. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults experienced better outcomes from psychological treatments than working-age adults. Given the deleterious effects if mental health conditions go untreated, increasing access to psychological therapies for older people should be an international priority.
Authors: Roosje Walrave; Simon Gabriël Beerten; Pavlos Mamouris; Kristien Coteur; Marc Van Nuland; Gijs Van Pottelbergh; Lidia Casas; Bert Vaes Journal: BMC Prim Care Date: 2022-06-28