A systematic review of older adult anxiety measures and the clinical effectiveness of group psychoeducational cbt for mixed anxiety and depression in older adults

• Main Author: Bains, Manreesh
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-2012
• Subjects: Neurosciences

The Psychometric Properties of Older Adult Self-Report Anxiety Measures: A Systematic Review. Appropriate anxiety assessment for older adults is based on validated measurement. Without sound psychometric tools, accuracy of assessment is compromised. This review considers the practicality of and psychometric evidence for self-report anxiety measures designed specifically for use with older adults. Reviewing 17 articles, a total of 8 older adult anxiety measures met inclusion criteria, with the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (Pachana, Byrne, Siddle, Koloski, Harley & Arnold, 2007) having the most evidence of sound psychometric foundations. Most of the older adult specific anxiety measures were found to be accessible for clinical use and have low practical burden. Methodological critique of the studies is discussed, as well as directions for future research. The Clinical Effectiveness of Group Psychoeducational Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Mixed Anxiety and Depression in Older Adults: A Feasibility Study. There is a dearth of literature in relation to group interventions that address co-morbid anxiety and depression for older adults. This research evaluates the clinical effectiveness of a manualised 6 session cognitive behavioural psychoeducational group programme for older adults using a pre-post and short term follow up design. Patients (N=34) meeting specified inclusion criteria attended a group (N=8). A battery of process and outcome measures, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (Zigmond & Snaith, 1983), Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation - Outcome Measure (Barkham et al., 1998) and Health of the Nation Outcome Scale 65+ (Burns et al., 1999) were completed at assessment, termination and 6 week follow up. All outcome measures demonstrated improvement from assessment to termination and assessment to follow up comparisons. On the CORE-OM, 28% of patients reliably improved and 22% were classified as recovered at termination.