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Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich
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Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Jan 06, 2016

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Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich. Centre for Emotional Health (CEH). Centre for research excellence Focused on the understanding, treatment and prevention of anxiety, depression and related mental health problems - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Page 1: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research

Viviana Wuthrich

Page 2: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Centre for Emotional Health (CEH)

• Centre for research excellence • Focused on the understanding, treatment and

prevention of anxiety, depression and related mental health problems

• The Centre for Emotional Health also encompasses the Emotional Health Clinic and the eCentreClinic

Page 3: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Current members & Output

• 11 Academic staff• 6 Post-doctoral research fellows• Around 65 doctoral students

• Total research funding > $8.5M. (2010 – 2014)• Scientific publications > 115 (2010 – 2011)

Page 4: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Emotional Health Clinic• Highly respected clinical treatment service that provides

the latest help for people suffering emotional difficulties. • Provides treatment and assessment services to around

500+ clients per year• Strong reputation among public and professionals• Around 30 students & 10 professional visitors each year

Page 5: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Agenda

• Prevalence of anxiety and depression• Common signs of anxiety and depression in older

adults• Consequence of these problems being left untreated• Latest findings regarding treatment of these problems

in older adults

Page 6: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Ageing Population

• ABS estimations for over 65 year olds: – 2004 = 13% (or 2.6 million)– 2051 = 26%

• Estimation for over 85 year olds:– 2007 = 1.6%– 2051 = 5-7%

Page 7: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Mental Health Research is Neglected in Older Adults

• Apart from Dementia• Little research exists into the understanding and

treatment of anxiety and depression in older adults• There is more research for depression, very few

studies focus on anxiety in older adults

Page 8: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Prevalence of Anxiety & Depression in Adults over 60• Prevalence of clinical anxiety disorders is up to

10.2%• 24% for clinical depression in adults• Rates of clinical disorders for anxiety and depression

decrease in older adulthood

Page 9: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

12 month prevalence of anxiety and depression by age group (NSMHW, 2007)

Page 10: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Lower Prevalence Rates

• Prevalence may be underestimated:– Tools used to measure are unsuitable– Older adults less willing to admit symptoms– Symptoms change as people age

• Better coping skills -wisdom and life experience

Page 11: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Prevalence of Mild Anxiety & Depression

• Rates of subclinical depression are as high as 25% in primary health care settings, 50% in nursing homes

• Rates of subclinical anxiety up to 5-30%

Page 12: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Consequences of Untreated Symptoms• Life dissatisfaction• Disability• Mortality• Medication• Health care services• Suicide• Dementia

Page 13: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Completed Suicide (ABS, 2010)

Page 14: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Symptoms of Depression

• Sadness, tearfulness – but this is less prominent than in younger samples

• Loss of interest• Low motivation• Hopelessness• Excessive fatigue• Difficulty sleeping

Page 15: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Reduced Levels of Sadness

• Unclear why this is. Hypotheses include: – Less willing to admit low mood– Less able to recognise it– Depression characterised by hopelessness and

helplessness rather than sadness– Biological changes or vascular lesions might result

in differences in symptoms presentation

Page 16: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Symptoms of Anxiety

• Anxiety most characterised by worry– Worry about relationships, health, finances, family– Restlessness or agitation– Difficulty sleeping

• Other anxiety is less common (post traumatic stress, social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder)

Page 17: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Common Themes of Distress

• Life long anxiety and/or depression• Relationship conflict• Worry about family, children and grandchildren• Burden of caring for frail parents or spouse• Worry: ageing, illness, dementia, fitness, finances• Difficulty adjusting to retirement, loss of purpose• Bereavement• Isolation, loss of social networks

Page 18: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Help Seeking- NSMHW (2007)

• Of those people who identified as having anxiety or depression, service use was lowest among the young people (23%) and older adults aged 75-85years (23%)

• Males were particularly unlikely to seek help across all age groups

Page 19: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Treatment for Anxiety & Depression

• Most common treatments are medications– Possible side-effects, drug-to-drug interactions

• Psychological treatments are also effective– International research indicates that psychological

techniques can greatly benefit older adults– Problem solving skills, relaxation, changing

negative thinking, socialising and discussion groups are all helpful

Page 20: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Treatment continued

• Research normally is targeted at anxiety OR depression

• Anxiety and depression commonly co-occur throughout the lifespan– Community sample in Netherlands aged 55-85 yrs

comorbid prevalence of major depression and any anxiety disorder was 47.5%

• Some research indicates that having both reduces the effectiveness of treating the other disorder

Page 21: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Our Research

• Assessment of anxiety and depression in older adults• Symptom profiles • Emotion regulation• Coping skills• Barriers to treatment seeking• Psychological Treatments• Impact of cognitive changes on effectiveness of

psychological treatments

Page 22: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Recent Trial (2007-2010)

• Developed and examined the effectiveness of a group psychological treatment for comorbid anxiety and depression in adults over 60

• Compared to doing nothing, we found that psychological treatment provided benefits for both anxiety and depression symptoms and improved quality of life

• These improvements were lasting (evident 3 months later)

Page 23: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Changes in Depression Score

Page 24: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Latest Research

• Comparing two different psychological treatments to determine which is the most effective (randomised controlled trial)

• Comorbid anxiety and depression in older adults aged 60 and over

• Examining changes in symptom severity, quality of life, and cognitive performance

• 3 year trial funded by National Health & Medical Research Council (2011-2013)

Page 25: Centre for Emotional Health - Ageing Research Viviana Wuthrich

Contact Details

• Further information about the free group treatment program for treating anxiety and depression in adults over 60 is available by contacting the Emotional Health Clinic on 9850 -8711

• Information on the Centre for Emotional Health is available at www.centreforemotionalhealth.com.au