AIM: The overall aim of the study is to test the effectiveness of Behavioural Activation (in this study named the Systematic Activation Method/SAM) for inpatients with a late life depression (LLD) when implemented in mental health nursing care.
METHOD: To test the effectiveness, a cluster-RCT in 10 inpatient elderly psychiatric units (5 experimental units and 5 control units) was conducted. Several sub studies were carried out.
FINDINGS: No significant overall effects in the RCT could be demonstrated after implementing the SAM in an inpatient elderly setting. The results of the evaluation study show that it is important for nurses to adapt the SAM to the specific characteristics and circumstances of the unit and the patients.
DISCUSSION: The two factors that are probably accountable for the results are 1) a low inclusion rate and 2) a low implementation rate.
CONCLUSION: In the development of effective nursing intervention for inpatients with LLD, the SAM could be helpful when systematically implemented in routine care. An extensive training program for nurses is necessary to increase the skills that are required for the effective execution of the intervention.