Older Adults' Experiences of Telephone-Delivered Behavioral Activation with Mental Imagery as a Treatment for Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the use of telehealth interventions for treating depression in older adults. We conducted a pilot study of a telephone-based brief psychological intervention, Behavioral Activation with Mental Imagery (BA-MI), for the treatment of depression in isolated older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. We achieved promising results regarding a reduction in depressive symptoms. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the participants' experiences of the intervention and provide insight into how the intervention could be improved. Fourteen participants aged 67-85 years that completed the BA-MI intervention were purposively selected and interviewed. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis with a descriptive phenomenological approach. BA was experienced as a good way of increasing activities and improving mood, but the opinions on MI were divided. Telephone delivery reduced barriers due to pandemic restrictions but felt less personal and lacking non-verbal communication. Being recognized and talking to a therapist every week was described as healing. When using manual-based psychological interventions, one should aim to make them as person-centered as possible by making room for the patients as individuals with both a past and a present, rather than just focusing on intervention delivery.