Journal article

Mental health literacy, folic acid and vitamin B12, and physical activity for the prevention of depression in older adults: Randomised controlled trial

JG Walker, AJ Mackinnon, P Batterham, AF Jorm, I Hickie, A McCarthy, M Fenech, H Christensen

British Journal of Psychiatry | CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS | Published : 2010

Abstract

Background: Few randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have examined potential preventive agents in high-risk community populations. Aims: To determine whether a mental health literacy intervention, the promotion of physical activity, or folic acid plus vitamin B12 reduce depression symptoms in community-dwelling older adults with elevated psychological distress. Method: An RCT with a completely crossed 2x2x2 factorial design: (400 mcg/d folic acid + 100 mcg/d vitamin B12 v. placebo)x(physical activity v. nutrition promotion control)x(mental health literacy v. pain information control). The initial target sample size was 2000; however, only 909 adults (60-74 years) met the study criteria. Inter..

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University of Melbourne Researchers