Efficacy of problem-solving therapy in treating late-life depression with potential cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction Late-life depression (LLD) is a global public health issue, often accompanied by cognitive impairments that can exacerbate the severity of depression and impair social functioning. Despite being a well-established treatment for LLD, the suitability of problem-solving therapy (PST) for i...

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Main Authors: Xia Li, Tao Wang, Chun Huang, Jianjun Wang, Yuan Fang, Feng Yan, Dongbin Cai, Zhiling Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2024-10-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/10/e084130.full
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author Xia Li
Tao Wang
Chun Huang
Jianjun Wang
Yuan Fang
Feng Yan
Dongbin Cai
Zhiling Zhang
author_facet Xia Li
Tao Wang
Chun Huang
Jianjun Wang
Yuan Fang
Feng Yan
Dongbin Cai
Zhiling Zhang
author_sort Xia Li
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Late-life depression (LLD) is a global public health issue, often accompanied by cognitive impairments that can exacerbate the severity of depression and impair social functioning. Despite being a well-established treatment for LLD, the suitability of problem-solving therapy (PST) for individuals with LLD and varying degrees of cognitive impairments warrants further investigation. This paper presents the protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) aimed at evaluating the effectiveness and acceptability of PST for this specific demographic.Methods/analysis Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we will conduct a systematic review to synthesise existing research on PST for individuals in this demographic. We will comprehensively search multiple databases and sources, including PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Database and APA PsycNET from inception to October 2023, without language, publication year or type restrictions. Relevant studies will be manually screened from the references. Only RCTs involving PST for LLD will be included. The primary efficacy outcome will be the standardised mean difference in total scores on continuous depression severity scales across different comparison arms. Data extraction will be conducted independently by two reviewers (CH and J-JW), and methodological rigour will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias assessment tool. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses will be performed to investigate the impact of concomitant cognitive impairments and to evaluate the robustness of the findings.Ethics and dissemination The meta-analysis project is expected to be ethically unproblematic and does not require approval from a research ethics committee. The results of this study will be shared through articles in scholarly peer-reviewed journals and presentations in various formats, both print and digital.PROSPERO registration number CRD42023473782
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spelling doaj-art-3f0c8d4dcc264023b954ff4476bcb2022025-08-20T01:47:25ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552024-10-01141010.1136/bmjopen-2024-084130Efficacy of problem-solving therapy in treating late-life depression with potential cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysisXia Li0Tao Wang1Chun Huang2Jianjun Wang3Yuan Fang4Feng Yan5Dongbin Cai6Zhiling Zhang74 Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China1 The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China1 The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China1 The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China3 Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China3 Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China1 The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China1 The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaIntroduction Late-life depression (LLD) is a global public health issue, often accompanied by cognitive impairments that can exacerbate the severity of depression and impair social functioning. Despite being a well-established treatment for LLD, the suitability of problem-solving therapy (PST) for individuals with LLD and varying degrees of cognitive impairments warrants further investigation. This paper presents the protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) aimed at evaluating the effectiveness and acceptability of PST for this specific demographic.Methods/analysis Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we will conduct a systematic review to synthesise existing research on PST for individuals in this demographic. We will comprehensively search multiple databases and sources, including PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Database and APA PsycNET from inception to October 2023, without language, publication year or type restrictions. Relevant studies will be manually screened from the references. Only RCTs involving PST for LLD will be included. The primary efficacy outcome will be the standardised mean difference in total scores on continuous depression severity scales across different comparison arms. Data extraction will be conducted independently by two reviewers (CH and J-JW), and methodological rigour will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias assessment tool. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses will be performed to investigate the impact of concomitant cognitive impairments and to evaluate the robustness of the findings.Ethics and dissemination The meta-analysis project is expected to be ethically unproblematic and does not require approval from a research ethics committee. The results of this study will be shared through articles in scholarly peer-reviewed journals and presentations in various formats, both print and digital.PROSPERO registration number CRD42023473782https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/10/e084130.full
spellingShingle Xia Li
Tao Wang
Chun Huang
Jianjun Wang
Yuan Fang
Feng Yan
Dongbin Cai
Zhiling Zhang
Efficacy of problem-solving therapy in treating late-life depression with potential cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BMJ Open
title Efficacy of problem-solving therapy in treating late-life depression with potential cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Efficacy of problem-solving therapy in treating late-life depression with potential cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Efficacy of problem-solving therapy in treating late-life depression with potential cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy of problem-solving therapy in treating late-life depression with potential cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Efficacy of problem-solving therapy in treating late-life depression with potential cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort efficacy of problem solving therapy in treating late life depression with potential cognitive impairment a systematic review and meta analysis
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/10/e084130.full
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