Effectiveness of Screening and Counselling for Elderly With Psychological Problems

January 26, 2006 updated by: The University of Hong Kong

A Randomised Controlled Trial on the Effectiveness of Screening and Brief Counselling for Elderly Patients With Psychological Problems in Primary Care.

The aim of the study is to test whether screening followed by brief problem-solving counselling in primary care could improve the quality of life of elderly patients with undiagnosed psychological problems. We hypothesize that undiagnosed psychological problems detectable by screening are common in the elderly and brief counselling could improve the quality of life of these patients.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Objectives: The aim of the study is to test if screening followed by brief problem-solving counselling by primary care doctors can improve the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of elderly patients with previously undiagnosed psychological problems. It will also find out the effects of undiagnosed psychological problems on HRQOL and consultation rates of elderly patients.

Design, Setting & Subjects: This is a prospective single-blinded randomised controlled trial on 450 patients aged 60 or above attending a Government General Outpatient Clinic in Hong Kong, who have been screened for psychological problems.

Methods: Elderly patients attending the General Outpatient Department of the Ap Lei Chau Clinic who are not known to have the diagnosis of psychological problems with the Hospital Anxiety & Depression Scale (HADS) were screened in order to recruit 300 subjects who are screened positive for undiagnosed psychological problems will be randomised into the counselling or no-counselling groups, and 150 subjects who are screened negative for psychological problems will be selected as normal controls

Interventions: The counselling group will receive brief problem-solving counselling from a trained primary care doctor in addition to their usual medical care; the no-counselling group will receive general health education and their usual medical care; and the normal control group will continue with their usual care only.

Main Outcome Measures: Health-related quality of life measured by the SF-36, the HADS scores and consultation rates. The baseline and changes in outcomes of the three groups will be compared at 0, 6, 12, 36 and 52 weeks after screening.

Conclusions: The results will provide evidence on whether screening followed by brief problem-solving counselling in primary care is effective in improving quality of life and reducing consultation rates for the elderly with undiagnosed psychological problems.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

450

Phase

  • Phase 4

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

60 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Aged 60 or above
  2. Attending the study primary care clinic
  3. No known diagnosis of psychological problem
  4. Written consent provided

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Known psychological disease diagnosed by a registered practitioner
  2. Taking any psychotropic drug prescribed by a registered practitioner of Western medicine within the last year;
  3. Has suicidal plan or strong suicidal thought;
  4. Has psychotic symptom;
  5. any impairment in cognitive function; or
  6. any communication problem
  7. refuses to participate

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: Single

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Health-related quality of life scores
Hospital Anxiety and Depresssion scores

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Consultation rates

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

The University of Hong Kong

Collaborators

The Health Care and promotion Fund, the Governement of the Hong Kong SAR.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Cindy L Lam, MD, The University of Hong Kong

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

November 1, 2002

Study Completion

August 1, 2005

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 26, 2006

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 26, 2006

First Posted (Estimate)

January 27, 2006

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

January 27, 2006

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 26, 2006

Last Verified

December 1, 2005

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • RESCEP
  • HCPF 218016

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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