Existential group therapy for older adults with psychological distress: A randomized controlled trial of a primary care intervention

Symptoms of anxiety and depression are common among older adults, and this is the age group with the highest rate of suicide in Sweden and in many countries worldwide. Despite these facts, older adults are offered psychological treatment to a lesser extent than younger people. This may reflect ageism, but also a lack of evidence-based psychosocial treatments for older adults.

The aim of this three-year project is to evaluate a psychological group treatment for older adults with psychological distress in a primary care setting.

Based on existential psychology, the treatment will address involuntary loneliness, functional limitations and concerns about death, all of which are important psychological factors for understanding mental health problems in the process of aging.

The treatment was developed at Slottsskoagen  Primary Care Center in Gothenburg during 2017, and awarded best improvement project by the Swedish Society of General Practice in 2019. We now propose to rigorously test the existential group treatment in a randomized controlled trial (anticipated N=128).

Outcomes on psychological symptoms and quality of life will be compared with a supportive control group receiving weekly telephone calls. Post-treatment interviews will be carried out with a purposive sample in a qualitative focus group study.

The project, which will be conducted at four primary care centers in Västra Götaland, has the potential to fill a much needed gap for an often overlooked patient group.