The Health and Social Consequences of Depression Among the Elderly
Mental illnesses often go undiagnosed or untreated in low-income settings. Mental health care may be especially important for the elderly - events in the lives of the elderly, like illnesses or deaths of peers, may put these individuals at high risk of mental illness. The study will constitute a randomized controlled trial aimed at reducing depression among elderly women. Through two interventions, the investigators will aim to improve women elder's outlook on life and relationships through cognitive behavioral…
Conditions studied
Depression, Functional Impairment
About this study
Mental illnesses often go undiagnosed or untreated in low-income settings. Mental health care may be especially important for the elderly - events in the lives of the elderly, like illnesses or deaths of peers, may put these individuals at high risk of mental illness. The study will constitute a randomized controlled trial aimed at reducing depression among elderly women. Through two interventions, the investigators will aim to improve women elder's outlook on life and relationships through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and facilitated group activities. There will be a total of four treatment arms: one for CBT during home visits, one for facilitated group activities, one for both, and a control group receiving neither the CBT nor facilitated group activities. All activities will be delivered by lay government community volunteers. Randomization for group activities will be at the village level, and randomization for CBT will be at the individual-level within each village. Investigators will track outcomes of the elderly at two points in time: immediately after the main 12-week intervention period and 6 months after the main intervention period.
Interventions
- Behavioral: CBT — Cognitive behavioral therapy delivered by community resource persons via home visits.
- Behavioral: Group Activities — Weekly hour-long group activities delivered by community resource persons in community spaces.
Primary outcomes
- Depression Score (Assessed at 0 months after the intervention)
- Depression Score (Assessed at 6 months after the intervention)
- Difficulty in performing daily activities/Functional impairment score (Assessed at 0 months after the intervention)
- Difficulty in performing daily activities/Functional impairment score (Assessed at 6 months after the intervention)
Eligibility information
Study locations
- JPAL SA at IFMR, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600018 India
- JPAL SA at IFMR, Chennai, Tamil Nadu India
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. Record last refreshed by Varda Clinical: 2026-10-03.