ALDER Program for Anxiety Disorders (ALDER Trial)

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen ByElizabeth Addington, PhD

Age: 65+

Sex: Any

Travel: May be covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: Northwestern University

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?The goal of this clinical trial is to test ALDER (Anxiety Lowering and Deprescribing through Emotion Regulation), an online self-guided positive emotion intervention, in patients over the age of 65 who are candidates for benzodiazepine receptor agonist (BZRA, commonly called benzos, or z-drugs) deprescribing. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is ALDER relevant to and satisfactory for older adult BZRA users? * Does ALDER help to increase positive emotions and decrease anxiety, trouble sleeping, and use of BZRA medications? Participants will complete the 5-week online self-guided ALDER intervention as well as two survey assessments, one before the intervention and one after.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals over the age of 65 who use benzodiazepines at least twice a week, have had a clinic visit within the past year, and can access the internet daily. They must be able to read and speak English and have their medication prescribed by NM primary care in the last year.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 65 years old or older.

I was prescribed a benzodiazepine by my primary care doctor in the last year.

Participant Groups

The ALDER program, an online self-guided intervention aimed at increasing positive emotions and reducing anxiety, sleep issues, and dependence on benzodiazepine medications among older adults is being tested.

1Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: InterventionExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Participants will go through a 5-week online self-guided positive emotion skills course.