Self-worth therapy for depressive symptoms in older nursing home residents.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to report the effects of self-worth therapy on depressive symptoms of older nursing home residents.


BACKGROUND
Depression in older people has become a serious healthcare issue worldwide. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies have been shown to have inconsistent effects, and drug treatment can have important side-effects.


METHODS
A quasi-experimental design was used. Older people were sampled by convenience from residents of a nursing home in northern Taiwan between 2005 and 2006. To be included in the study participants had to: (i) have no severe cognitive deficits; (ii) test positive for depressive status and (iii) take the same anti-depressant medication in the previous 3 months and throughout the study. Participants in the experimental group (n = 31) received 30 minutes of one-to-one self-worth therapy on 1 day a week for 4 weeks. Control group participants (n = 32) received no therapy, but were individually visited by the same research assistant, who chatted with them for 30 minutes on 1 day/week for 4 weeks. Depressive status, cognitive status and functional status were measured at baseline, immediately after the intervention and 2 months later. Data were analysed by mean, standard deviations, t-test, chi-squared test and univariate anova.


RESULTS
Self-worth therapy immediately decreased depressive symptoms relative to baseline, but not relative to control treatment. However, 2 months later, depressive symptoms were statistically significantly reduced relative to control.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-worth therapy is an easily-administered, effective, non-pharmacological treatment with potential for decreasing depressive symptoms in older nursing home residents.
Tsai
Yun-Fang
YF
School of Nursing, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan. yftsai@mail.cgu.edu.tw
Wong
Thomas K S
TK
Tsai
Hsiu-Hsin
HH
Ku
Yan-Chiou
YC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013624:Taiwan