Brain Changes During Social Reward Psychotherapy for Mid- and Late-Life Suicidality
Start Date
9/18/2023
Completion Date
9/30/2028
Summary
The investigators hypothesized that during the 9-week course of Engage \& Connect treatment there will be an increase in brain functions of the Positive Valence System which in turn will lead to reduction in suicidality.
Detailed Description
Social disconnection peaks in middle and late life and leads to an increased risk of suicide, persistent depression, and poor response to psychosocial interventions. There is a critical need to develop a mechanistic understanding of the link between social disconnection and suicidality, identify biological targets, and address targets with scalable interventions. The investigators developed a novel psychotherapy, Engage \& Connect, aimed to improve functions of the Positive Valence System (PVS) that are impaired in suicidality through increased engagement in rewarding social activities. This study will use state-of-the-art precision imaging methods and clinical measures to evaluate brain- and behavioral changes in the PVS during psychotherapy. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to 9-weekly sessions of either Engage \& Connect therapy or Symptom Review and Psychoeducation * Complete 4 research assessments * Complete 3 MRI scans
Eligibility Criteria
Age Range: 50 years to 80 years
Interventions
"Engage & Connect" Psychotherapy
Symptom Review and Psychoeducation (SRP)
Conditions
Locations
Weill Cornell Medicine
New York, New York 10065
United States