@article{ref1,
title="Helping Aged Victims of Crime (the HAVoC Study): common crime, older people and mental illness",
journal="Behavioural and cognitive psychotherapy",
year="2015",
author="Serfaty, Marc and Ridgewell, Anna and Drennan, Vari and Kessel, Anthony and Brewin, Chris R. and Wright, Anwen and Laycock, Gloria and Blanchard, Martin",
volume="44",
number="2",
pages="140-155",
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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1352-4658",
doi="10.1017/S1352465814000514",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1352465814000514"
}