  The pseudo SU(3) approach has been used to describe many low-lying rotational
bands, as well as BE(2) and B(M1) intensities in rare earth and actinide
nuclei, both with even-even and odd-mass numbers . The double beta half lives
of some of these parent nuclei to the ground and excited states of the daughter
ones were evaluated for the two and zero neutrino emitting modes using the
pseudo SU(3) scheme. The predictions were in good agreement with the available
experimental data for 150Nd and 238U.
  The double electron capture half-lives of 156Dy, 162Er and 168Yb were also
studied using the same formalism. The first nuclei was found to be the best
candidate for experimental detection, with a half-life of 10^24 yr to the first
excited 0+ state in 156Gd. There are strong selection rules which restrict the
two neutrino mode of the double beta decay in some other nuclei, including
160Gd. Experimental limits for the double beta decay of 160Gd have been
reported . Recently it was argued that the strong cancellation of the 2nu mode
in the double beta decay of 160Gd would suppress the background for the
detection of the 0nu mode.
  In the present contribution we extend the previous research evaluating the
double beta half lives of 160Gd using the pseudo SU(3) model. While the 2nu
mode is forbidden when the most probable occupations are considered, states
with different occupation numbers can be mixed through the pairing interaction.
The amount of this mixing is evaluated using perturbation theory. The
possibility of observing the double beta decay in 160Gd is discussed for both
the 2nu and 0nu modes.
