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Helping Aged Victims of Crime (the HAVoC Study): Common Crime, Older People and Mental Illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2015

Marc Serfaty ,
Anna Ridgewell ,
Vari Drennan ,
Anthony Kessel ,
Chris R. Brewin ,
Anwen Wright ,
Gloria Laycock  and
Martin Blanchard
Marc Serfaty*
Affiliation:
University College London, and The Priory Hospital North London, UK
Anna Ridgewell
Affiliation:
University College London, and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Vari Drennan
Affiliation:
St. George's Hospital, University of London and Kingston University, UK
Anthony Kessel
Affiliation:
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Public Health England, UK
Chris R. Brewin
Affiliation:
University College London, UK
Anwen Wright
Affiliation:
University College London, and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Gloria Laycock
Affiliation:
University College London, UK
Martin Blanchard
Affiliation:
University College London, and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, UK
*
Reprint requests to Marc Serfaty, Reader in Psychiatry, Mental Health Sciences Unit, University College London, Charles Bell House, 67–73 Riding House Street, London W1W 7EJ, UK. E-mail: m.serfaty@ucl.ac.uk
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Abstract

Backgound: Limited data suggest that crime may have a devastating impact on older people. Although identification and treatment may be beneficial, no well-designed studies have investigated the prevalence of mental disorder and the potential benefits of individual manualized CBT in older victims of crime. Aims: To identify mental health problems in older victims of common crime, provide preliminary data on its prevalence, and conduct a feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT) using mixed methods. Method: Older victims, identified through police teams, were screened for symptoms of anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) one (n = 581) and 3 months (n = 486) after experiencing a crime. Screen positive participants were offered diagnostic interviews. Of these, 26 participants with DSM-IV diagnoses agreed to be randomized to Treatment As Usual (TAU) or TAU plus our manualized CBT informed Victim Improvement Package (VIP). The latter provided feedback on the VIP. Results: Recruitment, assessment and intervention are feasible and acceptable. At 3 months 120/486 screened as cases, 33 had DSM-IV criteria for a psychiatric disorder; 26 agreed to be randomized to a pilot trial. There were trends in favour of the VIP in all measures except PTSD at 6 months post crime. Conclusions: This feasibility RCT is the first step towards improving the lives of older victims of common crime. Without intervention, distress at 3 and 6 months after a crime remains high. However, the well-received VIP appeared promising for depressive and anxiety symptoms, but possibly not posttraumatic stress disorder.

Keywords

Crimeolder adultspsychological distresscognitive behavioural therapypilot randomized controlled trial
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 44 , Issue 2 , March 2016 , pp. 140 - 155
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2015 

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