Gilbody S, Littlewood E, McMillan D, et al. - Because of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its restrictions, older people with long-term conditions (LTCs) are at risk of social isolation, which in turn, could cause depression and loneliness. Researchers herein conducted a smaller scale study to examine if behavioral activation (BA), a psychological approach, can aid in averting the onset of depression and loneliness.

• Based on sound psychological principles known as BA, a brief telephone-delivered intervention was designed.

• In the pilot trial, enrollees were adults aged ≥ 65 years with 2 or more LTCs.

• Intervention participants (n = 47) were offered BA, and usual primary care was provided to control participants (n = 49).

• The intervention is suggested as acceptable to older people who are socially isolated as a consequence of the pandemic.

• Some preliminary evidence suggests reduction in the levels of loneliness at 3 months when BA is offered.

• Overall, the procedures worked well in this smaller scale pilot study.