Previous findings have indicated that pain might be an important barrier in depression treatment both with antidepressant medication and in a United States (US) collaborative care model using problem solving therapy and antidepressant medication. It is unknown, however, if pain impacts depression outcomes of older adults in a collaborative care (CC) framework focusing on a brief psychological intervention of BA. Collectively CASPER, CASPER PLUS (+) and SHARD are three of the largest pragmatic, multi-centre randomised controlled trials (RCT) of BA for older adults in UK primary care with low mood and depression. The purpose of this secondary data analysis is, therefore, to explore if pain moderates (modifies) the effect of BA on depression outcomes in older adults, potentially identifying subgroups of older adults who may not respond as well to BA.
This study is a secondary data analysis of three of largest Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) of behavioural activation (BA) for older people with depression in the United Kingdom (UK) primary care. The analysis will aim to explore the impact of pain on depression outcomes of older people receiving BA and potentially identify sub-groups of people who may not respond as well to treatment.