title: Helping Aged Victims of Crime (the HAVoC Study): Common Crime, Older People and Mental Illness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited data suggest that crime may have a devastating impact on older people. Although identification and treatment may be beneficial, no well-designed studies have investigated the prevalence of mental disorder and the potential benefits of individual manualized CBT in older victims of crime.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify mental health problems in older victims of common crime, provide preliminary data on its prevalence, and conduct a feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT) using mixed methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Older victims, identified through police teams, were screened for symptoms of anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) one (n = 581) and 3 months (n = 486) after experiencing a crime. Screen positive participants were offered diagnostic interviews. Of these, 26 participants with DSM-IV diagnoses agreed to be randomized to Treatment As Usual (TAU) or TAU plus our manualized CBT informed Victim Improvement Package (VIP). The latter provided feedback on the VIP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recruitment, assessment and intervention are feasible and acceptable. At 3 months 120/486 screened as cases, 33 had DSM-IV criteria for a psychiatric disorder; 26 agreed to be randomized to a pilot trial. There were trends in favour of the VIP in all measures except PTSD at 6 months post crime.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This feasibility RCT is the first step towards improving the lives of older victims of common crime. Without intervention, distress at 3 and 6 months after a crime remains high. However, the well-received VIP appeared promising for depressive and anxiety symptoms, but possibly not posttraumatic stress disorder.
authors.affiliation: University College London, andThe Priory Hospital North London,UK.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serfaty
authors.affiliation: University College London, andCamden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust,UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ridgewell
authors.affiliation: St. George's Hospital,University of London and Kingston University,UK.
authors.forename: Vari
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Drennan
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, andPublic Health England,UK.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kessel
authors.affiliation: University College London,UK.
authors.forename: Chris R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Brewin
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leavey
authors.affiliation: University College London, andCamden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust,UK.
authors.forename: Anwen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: University College London,UK.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laycock
authors.affiliation: University College London, andCamden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust,UK.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blanchard
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Crime; cognitive behavioural therapy; older adults; pilot randomized controlled trial; psychological distress