Intervención breve de terapia de aceptación y compromiso (ACT) en ancianos institucionalizados con sintomatología depresiva / Brief ACT protocol for nursing home residents with depressive symptomatology

ABSTRACT

Depression is widely prevalent in nursing home residents. However, this population remain unobserved and undertreated. This pilot study explored the applicability and efficacy of a brief ACT-based protocol to three elderly residents, aged 65 to 83 years, diagnosed with dysthymic disorder and recurrent depressive disorder. Measures of psychological flexibility, value-consistent behaviour and depressive symptomatology were assessed. The results suggest that this brief ACT protocol produced significant increases on value-consistent behaviour in all subjects at 5 and 12 months follow-up. Clinical significant changes were also obtained in improvements in psychological flexibility, value-consistent behaviour and depressive symptomatology scores. This preliminary brief ACT protocol shows an important impact as a therapeutic tool in nursing home residents who present recurrent depressive symptoms. Further research is discussed (AU)