Effect of Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy on Loneliness in a Community Sample of Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

ABSTRACT

Objectives

Research suggests a link between loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Multiple studies have examined treatment programs for loneliness; however, none have examined the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depression and anxiety in reducing loneliness.

Methods

Change in loneliness in sixty-two older adults (≥60 yrs; 65% female) who took part in a previously reported randomized controlled trial for the treatment of comorbid depression and anxiety was examined. Older adults were randomized to a 12-week group CBT or waitlist control condition. Participants who took part in CBT were followed-up three months later.

Results

Linear Mixed Model analyses indicated that after controlling for baseline cognition, depression, and anxiety, participants who completed CBT experienced a significant decrease in loneliness while the control group did not. This reduction was maintained at follow-up.

Conclusions

CBT programs for depression and anxiety are likely to be effective at reducing loneliness. This may be due to shared underlying cognitive and behavioral mechanisms between loneliness, depression, and anxiety such as sensitivity to perceived threat and social withdrawal. Further research is needed to understand if specific loneliness interventions are more effective.

Clinical Implications

CBT may be effective at reducing loneliness among older adults with depression and anxiety.

KEYWORDS:

• Loneliness
• anxiety
• depression
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• older adults

Clinical implications

• CBT programs aimed at treating anxiety and depression may also lead to longer-term reductions in feelings of loneliness among older adults.

• Older adults who experience loneliness will likely benefit from CBT programs.

• Loneliness may share underlying mechanisms with anxiety and depression.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. The differences in loneliness, mean anxiety disorder severity, and mean depression disorder severity remained significant when not controlling for baseline cognition (ACE-R). Loneliness: F(1,41.384) = 7.350, p =.01; Mean anxiety severity: F(1,50.176) = 18.480, p <.001; Mean depression severity: F(1,46.798) = 34.169, p <.001.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Beyond Blue and a Macquarie University Research Development Grant.