Depression among older adults can lead
to serious health problems. Jojanneke Korte, PhD student at the
University of Twente, investigated the effects of the life-review
group therapy programme “The Stories we live by” (“Op verhaal komen”
in Dutch) in some two hundred older patients (55+) with mild
depressive symptoms. According to Korte, “The process of
systematically recalling memories, otherwise known as life-review’,
is found to be effective. Depressive symptoms had disappeared in
more than half of participants by the end of the course, and these
participants were still symptom-free nine months later.”
Approximately 40% of mental health
institutions in the Netherlands offer “The stories we live by” group
therapy. The therapy consists of eight group meetings lasting two
hours each. Korte’s research has shown that a diverse target group
can be helped by “The stories we live by”. The RIVM has now
officially endorsed the programme as an effective treatment for mild
depressive symptoms in older adults (55+). “In contrast to cognitive
behavioural therapy, for example, this method is highly accessible
and provides a positive approach,” said Jojanneke Korte. “The costs
are currently somewhat higher than for regular care. They could be
lowered, however, for example by making the groups larger or
reducing the number of group mentors.”
Korte distinguishes four mechanisms in
the Life-review therapy which act to reduce symptoms of depression
and anxiety.
Firstly, people’s sense of bitterness
can be reduced by encouraging them to focus on the balance of
positive and negative events in their past life.
Secondly, attainable future goals can be set for people who have a
tendency to get stuck in the past.
Thirdly, people who have had difficult experiences in the past can
learn from reviewing how they tackled these problems at the time;
the same approach is likely to be effective for new problems they
encounter later.
The final, and most effective, technique, according to Korte, is to
encourage people to relate as many positive memories as possible, in
as much detail as possible.
The evidence suggests that life-review
is most beneficial in a group setting. Participants reported that
they appreciated the diversity of social processes involved, which
probably enhance the effectiveness of the life-review.
The following factors were mentioned most often: the feeling of
belonging, the feeling of being accepted, sharing of personal and
intimate experiences and realizing that others also have problems.
Korte carried out both quantitative and
qualitative research with older adults who had taken part in “The
stories we live by” therapy. This is the largest study in the world
to date of the effectiveness of life-review. It has emerged in the
meantime that the therapy can also be effectively delivered by
individual E-mail correspondence with a counsellor and the use of a
handbook. An evaluation of the effectiveness of “The stories we live
by” when delivered online will start in February. Anyone interested
in this online course can e-mail
opverhaalkomen@utwente.nl.
Further information
Jojanneke Korte’s doctoral research falls within the research
programme of the Institute for Innovation and Governance Studies (IGS)
at the University of Twente. Copies of her thesis “The stories we
live by: The adaptive role of reminiscence in later life” are
available on request. She will defend her thesis in the Prof. dr. G.
Berkhoff Hall of the University of Twente’s Waaier Building in
Enschede at 4.45 pm on 29 November. Her research supervisors are
Prof. dr. E. T. Bohlmeijer, dr. G.J. Westerhof (who were responsible
for the development of the “The stories we live by” therapy
programme) and Prof. dr. H.F.E. Smit.
http://www.utwente.nl/en/
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