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Lay-Delivered Behavioral Activation in Senior Centers

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
60 Years and older
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

Not stated in the study description — ask the study team about visits and procedures.

Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study tests “Do More, Feel Better,” a program that helps older adults with depression return to enjoyable daily activities. It compares care given by volunteers with care given by social workers with a master’s degree. The study includes senior center clients age 60 or older, older adult volunteers, and mental health professionals.

In response to large numbers of senior center clients who suffer untreated depression and the dearth of geriatric mental health providers, the investigators have simplified Behavioral Activation to be delivered by lay volunteers ("Do More, Feel Better"; DMFB). The focus of Behavioral Activation is to guide clients to reengage in daily pleasant and rewarding activities, and reduce depressive symptoms. If the investigators can show that the lay delivery model has positive impact in comparison to MSW-delivered Behavioral Activation, the investigators will have identified an effective intervention that can be used by a large untapped workforce of older adult volunteers across the nation.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Clients: Be age 60 or older and attend one of 18 study senior centers in the Seattle, New York City, or Tampa areas.
  • Clients: Score at least 10 on the PHQ-9 depression survey and above 14 on the HAM-D depression assessment.
  • Clients: Score at least 24 on the MMSE or at least 19 on the mTICS. These tests check memory and thinking.
  • Clients: Take no antidepressants, or have taken the same dose for at least 12 weeks.
  • Clients: Be able to give written consent for the study assessment and activity program.
  • Volunteers: Be age 60 or older and attend a study senior center in the Seattle, New York City, or Tampa areas.
  • Clinicians: Have a master’s degree in social work, counseling, marriage/family care, or another mental health field, and speak English or Spanish.
  • Clinicians: Be able to consent to all study steps and agree to audio recordings of sessions for supervision and review.

Who can't join

  • Clients: Currently have active thoughts of suicide.
  • Clients: Have a mental health diagnosis other than major depression without mania or loss of touch with reality, or generalized anxiety disorder, which causes ongoing worry.
  • Clients: Have a severe or life-threatening illness, such as advanced organ failure.
  • Clients: Cannot speak English or Spanish.
  • Volunteers: Currently have major depression, alcohol or drug abuse, unusually high energy or mood called mania or hypomania, or symptoms of losing touch with reality.
  • Volunteers: The listing excludes those scoring at least 24 on the MMSE or at least 19 on the mTICS memory and thinking tests.
  • Volunteers: Cannot speak and read English or Spanish.
  • Clinicians: Do not speak English or Spanish, lack the required master’s degree, cannot give consent, or will not allow audio recordings of sessions.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Client Participants (anticipated enrollment: 288) Inclusion Criteria: Referral to study (stage 1): 1. Age ≥ 60 years. 2. Attends one of 18 participating Seattle, NYC, or Tampa area senior centers. 3. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score of ≥10 via routine screening. Research assessment (stage 2): 1. Clinically-assessed HAM-D\>14 2. Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) ≥ 24 OR modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (mTICS) ≥ 19 3. Off antidepressants or on a stable dose for 12 weeks. 4. Capacity to provide written consent for both research assessment and the BA intervention. Client Participants Exclusion Criteria: 1. Current active suicidal ideation. 2. Presence of psychiatric diagnoses other than unipolar, non-psychotic major depression or generalized anxiety disorder by SCID-V (Structure Clinical Interview for DSM-V). 3. Severe or life-threatening medical illness (e.g., end stage organ failure). 4. Inability to speak English or Spanish Volunteer Participants (anticipated enrollment: 36) Inclusion Criteria 1. Age ≥ 60 years. 2. Attends one of the participating Seattle, NYC, or Tampa-area senior centers. Volunteer Participants Exclusion Criteria 1. Current major depressive disorder, alcohol or substance abuse, or manic, hypomanic, or psychotic symptoms (SCID-V); 2. Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) ≥ 24 OR modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (mTICS) ≥ 19; 3. Inability to speak and read English or Spanish Clinician Participants (anticipated enrollment: 36) Inclusion Criteria 1. Master's degree in social work, counseling, marriage/family, or other clinical mental health degree 2. English or Spanish Speaking 3. Capacity to provide consent for all study procedures 4. Willing to audio record study sessions for supervision and evaluation Clinician Participants Exclusion Criteria 1. Non-English or Non-Spanish speaking 2. Does not hold a Master's degree in social work, counseling, marriage/family, or other clinical mental health degree 3. Unable to provide consent 4. Unwilling to audio record study sessions for supervision and evaluation

Study sites (25)

FL

NY

WA