New research suggests that structured psychological care delivered over an eight-week period via telephone can help prevent depression and loneliness.
The outcomes of the study, a significant clinical trial conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, indicated swift and long-lasting enhancements in mental well-being and life quality among older individuals. These improvements occurred when older adults received weekly phone calls over an eight-week period from a specifically trained coach who encouraged them to uphold their social connections and engage in physical activity.
Co-authored by Professor Carolyn Chew-Graham OBE from Keele University, the study was led by a team from the University of York, Hull York Medical School, and Tees, Esk, and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust. Researchers observed a significant reduction in depression levels, surpassing the benefits seen with antidepressants.
Participants in the study noted a 21% decrease in emotional loneliness over a three-month period, and these positive effects persisted even after the cessation of phone calls, suggesting a lasting impact.
The Behavioral Activation in Social Isolation (BASIL+) trial commenced shortly after the onset of the 2020 pandemic and stands as the largest trial ever conducted to address and measure loneliness in this manner. These findings have been published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity journal.
Participants invited to join the BASIL+ study were individuals aged over 65 with multiple chronic conditions who had been advised to shield during the COVID-19 pandemic, placing them at heightened risk of loneliness and depression.
The BASIL+ trial held particular significance as the sole mental health study prioritized by the NHS as part of its Urgent Public Health program, a pivotal component of its response to COVID-19. Hundreds of older adults were enrolled in the BASIL+ trial across 26 sites throughout the UK during the pandemic in 2020–21.
Professor Carolyn Chew-Graham OBE, who serves as Professor of General Practice Research at Keele University, remarked, “Observing the outcomes of the BASIL+ trial represents the culmination of a robust collaboration between our universities in the north, aimed at addressing a significant threat to health and well-being. We are committed to continuing our collaborative efforts to ensure that the findings of our trial translate into tangible improvements in the lives of older adults post-pandemic. Effective scientific progress, such as this, is a collective effort.”
The study was jointly led by Professor Simon Gilbody from the University of York and Hull York Medical School, and Professor David Ekers from Tees, Esk, and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust. Professor Gilbody emphasized, “We now understand that loneliness poses a health risk comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes daily, and depression silently jeopardizes health. Many of us involved in the BASIL+ trial had elderly relatives who experienced social isolation during lockdown.”
Professor Ekers added, “Building on our prior research, we had a strong hypothesis about potential interventions. With the backing of the NHS and the NIHR, we were able to rigorously test this hypothesis in a large-scale trial. The findings are now available, and they are incredibly promising. Just as the UK led the world in vaccine discovery trials, we have similarly advanced the understanding of effective strategies to combat loneliness in mental health, drawing valuable lessons from the challenging times of the pandemic.”
Dr. Liz Littlewood, the BASIL+ trial manager from the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York, commented, “This collaboration exemplifies the strengths of the UK system and underscores how the NHS, universities, and third-sector organizations collaborated during the pandemic to address significant health challenges.”
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