Depression and anxiety, an Indicated Prevention (DIP) protocol in homes for the elderly: feasibility and (cost) effectiveness of a stepped care programme

doi:10.1186/1471-2318-7-6

BMC Geriatrics

Volume 7

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Dozeman E
van Schaik DJ
Beekman AT
Stalman WA
Bosmans JE
van Marwijk HW

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van Schaik DJ
Beekman AT
Stalman WA
Bosmans JE
van Marwijk HW
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Study protocol

Depression and anxiety, an Indicated Prevention (DIP) protocol in homes for the elderly: feasibility and (cost) effectiveness of a stepped care programme

Els Dozeman¹^,2 , Digna JF van Schaik¹^,2^,3 , Aartjan TF Beekman¹^,2^,3 , Wim AB Stalman¹^,2 , Judith E Bosmans⁴ and Harm WJ van Marwijk¹^,2

¹Department of General Practice, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

²Institute for Research in Extramurel Medicine, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

³Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

⁴Institute for Health Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

author email corresponding author email

BMC Geriatrics 2007, 7:6doi:10.1186/1471-2318-7-6


Published:	8 March 2007

Abstract

Background

Depressive and anxiety disorders are a very common, serious and underdetected problem in homes for the elderly. Elderly persons in residential homes are at high risk for developing major depressive and anxiety disorders, and, therefore, deserve attention with regard to prevention.

Methods/Design

This protocol describes a randomised trial on the feasibility and (cost) effectiveness of a stepped-care programme for prevention of depressive and anxiety disorders in homes for the elderly. The main outcome measure is the incidence of depressive and anxiety disorder in one year with a two years follow up. Secondary outcomes are symptoms of depression and anxiety, quality of life, direct health care costs and satisfaction with treatment.

Discussion

The number of studies examining the effects of preventive interventions on the incidence of mental disorders in the elderly population is very small. However, indicated prevention by means of a stepped-care programme seems to be an important option for decreasing the burden of illness for residents and their caregivers. This study contributes to the body of knowledge in this field. Positive effects may contribute to further use and development of tailored, (cost-) effective and easy to use interventions in a preventive stepped-care programme.

Trial Registration

The Dutch Cochrane Centre, ISRCTN27540731