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Age at first onset of depression as a clinical factor affecting cognitive improvement in late life depression was investigated. This is a secondary analysis of an eight-week randomized controlled trial involving 452 elderly patients treated by vortioxetine, duloxetine or placebo (1:1:1). Patients were subcategorized into early-onset (LLD-EO) and late-onset (LLD-LO) groups divided by onset age of 50. Cognitive performance was assessed by composite score of Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) tasks, while depressive symptoms were assessed by Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Vortioxetine and duloxetine exhibited advantages versus placebo in improving cognitive performance in the LLD-LO group, yet not in the LLD-EO group after eight weeks. Patients in the LLD-EO group showed overall advantage to placebo in depressive symptoms before endpoint (week 8) of treatment, while patients in the LLO-LO group showed no advantage until endpoint. Path analysis suggested a direct effect of vortioxetine (B = 0.656, p =.036) and duloxetine (B = 0.726, p =.028) on improving cognition in the LLD-LO group, yet in all-patients treated set both medications improved cognition indirectly through changes of depressive symptoms. Reliability of clinical history could raise caution as it was collected by subjective recall of patients. Age at first onset might affect cognitive improvement as well as change in depressive symptoms and its mediation towards cognitive improvement in late life depression treated with vortioxetine and duloxetine. • Vortioxetine and Duloxetine improved cognitive performance of elderly depressed patients with first onset after 50. • Patients with first depressive onset before 50 showed earlier symptomatic change than those with first onset after 50. • Vortioxetine and duloxetine showed direct treatment effect on improving cognition in patients with first episode after 50. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extending on previous findings that computerized Memory Specificity Training (c-MeST) improves memory specificity and depressive symptoms in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adults, this study aimed to assess the effects of c-MeST in youth with MDD on memory specificity and depression in addition to other treatment. Participants aged 15–25 (N = 359, 76 % female; M age = 19.2, SD = 3.1), receiving predominantly psychological therapy or counseling (85 %) and/or antidepressants (52 %) were randomized to usual care and c-MeST or usual care. Cognitive and clinical outcomes were assessed at baseline and at one, three, and six-month follow-ups. The usual care and c-MeST group reported higher memory specificity at one-month (d = 0.42, p =.022), but not at three or six months (d 's < 0.15, p 's > 0.05). The rate of MDE was numerically lower in the c-MeST group at each follow-up time-point, but group was not a statistically significant predictor at one month (64 % usual care and c-MeST vs. 68 % usual care, OR = 0.81, p =.606), three months (67 % usual care and c-MeST vs. 72 % usual care, OR = 0.64, p =.327) or six months (55 % usual care and c-MeST vs. 68 % usual care, OR = 0.56, p =.266). The usual care and c-MeST group did report lower depressive symptoms at one month (d = 0.42, p =.023) and six-months (d = 0.84, p =.001), but not three-months (d = 0.13, p >.05). c-MeST may reduce symptoms in youth with MDD when provided alongside other treatments. However, there are significant limitations to this inference, including high attrition in the study and a need for more data on the acceptability of the intervention. • Overgeneral memory appears to maintain depressive symptoms. • Computerized memory specificity training (c-MeST) improved memory specificity. • Depressive symptoms were reduced at one and six-month follow-up. • The effects occurred in addition to receiving other mental health support. • C-MeST may be a beneficial adjunct for youth with major depressive disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depressed patients who have become victim of violence are prone to revictimization. However, no evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing revictimization in this group exist. This multicenter randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of an internet-based emotion regulation training (iERT) added to TAU in reducing revictimization, emotion dysregulation, and depressive symptoms in recently victimized, depressed patients compared to TAU alone. Adult outpatients (N = 153) with a depressive disorder who had experienced threat, physical assault, or sexual assault within the previous three years were randomly allocated to TAU+iERT (n = 74) or TAU (n = 79). TAU involved psychotherapy (mainly cognitive behavioral therapy [77.8 %]). iERT comprised six guided online sessions focused on the acquisition of adaptive emotion regulation skills. The primary outcome measure was the number of revictimization incidents at 12 months after baseline, measured with the Safety Monitor. Analyses were performed according to the intention-to-treat principle. Both groups showed a large decrease in victimization incidents. Mixed-model negative binomial regression analyses showed that TAU+iERT was not effective in reducing revictimization compared to TAU (IRR = 0.97; 95%CI = 0.64,1.46; p =.886). Linear mixed-model analyses demonstrated that TAU+iERT yielded a larger reduction of emotion dysregulation (B = −7.217; p =.046; Cohens d = 0.33), but not depressive symptoms (B = −1.041; p =.607) than TAU. The study was underpowered to detect small treatment effects. Additionally, uptake of iERT was quite low. Although TAU+iERT resulted in a larger decrease of emotion dysregulation than TAU alone, it was not effective in reducing revictimization and depressive symptoms. Patients' revictimization risk substantially decreased during psychotherapy. • Online emotion regulation training improved emotion regulation in depressed patients. • iERT did not reduce revictimization rates or depressive symptoms compared to TAU. • Violent victimization rates decreased substantially during psychotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subjective support could ameliorate the adverse effect of (pre)frailty on depressive symptoms. However, there is scarce evidence regarding subjective support-focused intervention in preventing depression among (pre)frail community-dwelling older adults. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of subjective support-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (SS-CBT) in preventing depression among this group of population. A total of 100 community-dwelling (pre)frail older adults were recruited from six communities in a Chinese city and were randomized to an 8-week SS-CBT group or a wait-list control group. Depressive symptoms and subjective support were assessed at baseline (T0), and at 8 week (T1), 12 week (T2), 16 week (T3) after randomization. Generalized estimating equation was used to examine the effectiveness of SS-CBT on depressive symptoms and subjective support. Hierarchical linear regression models and Bootstrapping method were used to examine whether subjective support mediated the effectiveness of SS-CBT on depressive symptoms. Participants in SS-CBT group reported significant reduction in depressive symptoms (Wald χ 2 = 20.800, p < 0.001) and improvement in subjective support (Wald χ 2 = 92.855, p < 0.001) compared to those in wait-list control group. Changes in subjective support mediated the effectiveness of SS-CBT on changes in depressive symptoms. Restricted regions to recruit participants, inclusion of the most motivated participants, lack of diagnosis of depression, potential experimenter bias and contamination, short follow-up period, and lack of an active control group. The findings support the benefits of SS-CBT in preventing depression among (pre)frail community-dwelling older adults, and provide insight into possible mechanisms. • (Pre)frail older adults are more likely to experience depression. • Subjective support is effective in protecting depression. • Cognitive behavioral therapy has the potential to improve subjective support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up to 79 % of older adults with depression do not receive treatments commensurate with guideline recommendations. Metacognitive Training-Silver (MCT-Silver) is a low-intensity group training, which aims to reduce depressive symptoms by targeting (meta)cognitive beliefs. A randomized controlled trial comparing MCT-Silver (n = 41) to cognitive remediation (n = 39) was conducted with older adults with major depressive disorder and/or dysthymia. Clinician-rated depression (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [HDRS, primary outcome]), self-reported depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II [BDI-II]), negative cognitive beliefs, positive metacognitive beliefs, rumination, health status, quality of life, and neurocognitive functioning were assessed at baseline, eight weeks (post) and three months (follow-up). Both groups demonstrated moderate to large reductions in depression. No superior effects of MCT-Silver on clinician-rated depression (HDRS) were detected. MCT-Silver led to greater reductions in self-reported depression and rumination at post- and follow-up. Despite this, scores at post- and follow-up assessments were similar for both groups. MCT-Silver's effect on depressive symptoms was moderated by baseline rumination, positive metacognitive beliefs and previous treatment experience. MCT-Silver was evaluated as superior according to patient appraisals. Conclusions are limited by divergent findings on measures of depression and that the study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas no superior effect of MCT-Silver was found for the primary outcome, there was a significant effect of MCT-Silver for self-reported depression and rumination. Patients endorsing rumination and positive metacognitive beliefs as well as those without previous psychological treatment may benefit more from MCT-Silver. • We evaluated the efficacy of metacognitive training for depression in later life (MCT-Silver). • 80 patients were randomized to MCT-Silver or a cognitive remediation (CR) group. • MCT-Silver demonstrated statistically significant effects beyond CR on self-reported depression and rumination. • Despite statistically significant effects, total scores at post- and follow-up were similar between groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]