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“Where-There-Is-No-Psychiatrist Integrated Personal Therapy” among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Pilot Study

Author

Listed:
  • Shefaly Shorey

    (Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore)

  • Ee Heok Kua

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore)

  • Wilson Tam

    (Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore)

  • Valerie Chan

    (Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore)

  • Yong Shian Goh

    (Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore)

  • Hong Meng Lim

    (Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore)

  • Lina Hsiu Kim Lim

    (Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore)

  • Cheong Sing Tian

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore)

  • Rathi Mahendran

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore)

Abstract

In Singapore, many older adults suffer from subsyndromal depression and/or subsyndromal anxiety, which can negatively impact their physical and mental well-being if left untreated. Due to the general public’s reluctance to seek psychological help and the low psychiatrist-to-population ratio in Singapore, this study aims to examine the preliminary efficacy, perceptions, and acceptability of a trained volunteer-led community-based intervention on community-dwelling older adults. Twenty-one participants (control: n = 11; intervention: n = 10) completed the randomized pilot study. A mixed-methods approach (questionnaires, semistructured interviews, examining blood samples, intervention fidelity) was adopted. No significant differences were found between the intervention and the control groups in depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, friendship, and quality of life. However, there was a positive change in quality-of-life scores from baseline to 6 months in the intervention group. The control group had significantly higher cortisol levels and lower annexin-A1 levels at 6 months, while the intervention group did not. Three themes emerged from the interviews: (1) impact of the intervention on older adults’ well-being, (2) attitudes toward intervention, and (3) a way forward. However, intervention efficacy could not be established due to small sample size caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Future randomized controlled trials should evaluate volunteer-led, technology-based psychosocial interventions to support these older adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Shefaly Shorey & Ee Heok Kua & Wilson Tam & Valerie Chan & Yong Shian Goh & Hong Meng Lim & Lina Hsiu Kim Lim & Cheong Sing Tian & Rathi Mahendran, 2021. "“Where-There-Is-No-Psychiatrist Integrated Personal Therapy” among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9514-:d:632187
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Graeme Hawthorne, 2006. "Measuring Social Isolation in Older Adults: Development and Initial Validation of the Friendship Scale," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 77(3), pages 521-548, July.
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