The effectiveness of Systematic ActivatioMethod as a nursing intervention in inpatient depressed elderly.

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Approximately 2% of the Dutch elderly population suffers from a major depressive disorder (MDD). Due to a depressed mood and a diminished interest in nearly all activities, MDD has serious consequences for daily living (e.g. withdrawal from social activities and neglecting ones self-care). These consequences can lead to admission to a clinical ward. Activity Scheduling is a useful treatment modality for patients with MDD. It is a brief behavioral treatment for patients with depressive disorder. Research has shown that Activity Scheduling is an effective treatment with an overall effect size of .87. We developed Activity Scheduling as an intervention which can be executed by mental health nurses. Although activity scheduling is a promising intervention there is a little known about the effects of activity scheduling executed within nursing practice.

1. T0 (baseline): Mean BDI-II and GDS score, Costs, Mastery, Activity level, Qol;

2. T1 (8 weeks after T0):Mean BDI-II and GDS score, Mastery, Qol;

3. T1 (6 months after T0): Mean BDI-II and GDS score, Costs, Mastery, Activity level, Qol.

Intervention: A short course of 7 weeks. Patients learn:

1. To reflect on the fluctuations in their mood;

2. To execute pleasant activities randomly;

3. To develop a schedule of pleasant activities;

4. To execute these pleasant activities and monitor their mood simultaneously.
Patients will be guided by nurses.



Control: Care as usual.