Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Treating Depression in Older Patients with Dementia

Running head: RESEARCH PROPOSAL
EFFECT OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY IN TREATING DEPRESSION OLDER
PATIENT SUFFERING FROM DEMENTIA
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
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1RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Executive Summary
Depression is a common disorder observed in older patients. Antidepressants are the best
perceived options for treating severe clinical depression, but its associated side effects are of
major concern in case of the elderly patients. Alternative to the pharmacological interventions,
non-pharmacological interventions like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is used to treat
depression in elderly patients. This research proposal has aimed to conduct a research on the
effectiveness of the CBT in geriatric patients. The research was conducted in Cairn’s clinic. The
participants for the study were 25 informal caregivers of elderly dementia aged 60 and above,
suffering from clinical depression and are under treatment for 6-8 months. 5 psychiatrist should
also be approached for the interview who had been working in this setting for more than 6 years.
The collected data would then be subjected to data analysis.

2RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Research question........................................................................................................................3
Conceptual framework.................................................................................................................4
Literature review..............................................................................................................................4
Research design and methodology..................................................................................................7
Method and design.......................................................................................................................7
Sampling......................................................................................................................................7
Instruments..................................................................................................................................8
Data collection methods..............................................................................................................8
Data analysis..................................................................................................................................10
Ethical consideration.....................................................................................................................10
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................10
References......................................................................................................................................12

3RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Introduction
Globally the population is found to be ageing rapidly. Mental health wellbeing is an
important aspect at any stages of life. According to World health organisation’s report, over 20
% of the adults above the 60 years and over suffer from mental health disorders and 6.5 % of the
disabilities among the older adults are contributed by the neurological disorders (Leichsenring et
al., 2013). The most common type of mental disorders that occur in older people are dementia
and depression that affects at least 6-7 % of the older population over the world. Prompt and the
recognition of the mental, neurological and the substance use in the older adults is essential. Both
psychosocial interventions and medications are recommended for treating depression in dementia
patients (Seitz et al., 2012). But Cognitive behavioural therapy has been found to use as
psychological treatment in treating depression in dementia patients.
This research proposal is to find out the effectiveness of psychosocial therapies like
cognitive behavioural therapy in reducing clinical depression in dementia patients.
Research question
1. To find out the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy in treating mental
disorders like depression in geriatric patients suffering from dementia.
2. To find out the find out the effectiveness of CBT in comparison to antipsychotic
medications.