(Cost)effectiveness of life review for older adults: design of a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Depression in older adults is a serious health problem with a poor prognosis. There is a need for indicated preventive psychological interventions for older adults, that show to be promising in preventing depressive disorders.


METHODS
This manuscript describes the design of a study evaluating 'Looking for Meaning', a newly developed prevention course for older adults with depressive symptoms, based on life-review. Both clinical and economic effectiveness are evaluated in a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. The control condition of this 12-session preventive intervention is a 20-minute video movie. The primary outcome is symptoms of depression at post-treatment and follow-up (6 months after post-treatment). Secondary outcomes are symptoms of anxiety, satisfaction with life, mastery, reminiscence styles, quality of life, and health care costs. An additional result of this study is the insight into the working elements of the course, provided by the qualitative study. The qualitative data, mainly based on 20 open-ended interviews with participants, are to be analyzed with an emphasis on newly emerging insight.


CONCLUSIONS
This study will add to the existing scientific knowledge in several ways, especially by also including an economic evaluation and a qualitative study to gain insight into the working mechanisms of the course, both rather new in the field of life review. Positive results of this study will make an evidence-based intervention to improve public health among older people available.


BACKGROUND
Current Controlled Trials Ltd, ISRCTN66645855.
Pot
Anne Margriet
AM
Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction (Trimbos-instituut), Utrecht, The Netherlands. ampot@trimbos.nl
Melenhorst
Anne-Sophie
AS
Onrust
Simone
S
Bohlmeijer
Ernst T
ET
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006266:Health Education / Q000191:economics; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012107:Research Design