Trained lay volunteer-delivered psychotherapy intervention for older adults with depression is just as effective compared to clinician-delivered intervention.   

Background 

Behavioral Activation (BA) intervention is a type of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy designed to support adults and older adults with depression that encourages them to increase their participation in enjoyable activities. Do More, Feel Better (DMFB) is a streamlined nine-session version of BA designed to be delivered to older adults by trained older adults. This study examined changes in depression severity and activity level among older adults in four senior care centers who either received DMFB from trained older adult volunteers or standard BA from social workers.  

Findings  

The older adult volunteers were interviewed, trained, and certified prior to delivering DMFB, while trained social workers used treatment manuals to work with enrolled participants. After completing the program, DMFB participants showed similar reductions in depression severity, increases in activity levels, and high satisfaction compared to those who received BA from social workers. Additionally, DMFB volunteers reported increased self-confidence resulting from their involvement in the program.   

Policy/Program Takeaways 

Interventions like DMFB, which engage volunteers to deliver behavioral health care, compare favorably to those delivered by individuals with specialized training. This program model can support organizations and communities in addressing behavioral health workforce shortages and improving access to care for older adults. This blog post shares how DMFB is continuing to be evaluated across multiple states.