Reducing depression among community-dwelling older adults using life-story review: a pilot study.

A life-story review can serve as an effective intervention to express one's inner feelings and provide emotional catharsis. The research aim was to examine the effects of life-story review on depression levels in community-dwelling older adults in Singapore. This pilot experimental pre-post-follow-up study was conducted from July 2012 to February 2013. Twenty-nine older Malays aged 60 and above, with mild to moderate depression, were randomly allocated to the life-story review (intervention) group (n = 15) or the non life-story review (control) group (n = 14). Depressive symptoms were measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 and collected five times over eight weeks. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine the effects of the intervention on the elders' depression levels, controlled for age, gender, medication use, existence of chronic disease, and diary writing experience. Reductions in depression scores were found in the intervention group from week 1 (Mean ± SD 5.9 ± 2.3) to week 8 (1.9 ± 1.6) compared with the control group (week 1: 5.0 ± 1.3; week 8: 3.5 ± 1.5). At week 8, the intervention group showed a significantly lower level of depression than the control group (χ(2) = 14.61, p < 0.001). This study adds to prior research supporting the use of life story review in improving depression levels in cognitively intact community dwelling older adults.

Psychological Distress in Parents of Children with Cancer: A Descriptive Correlational Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to ascertain levels of distress and contributing factors among parent caregivers of pediatric cancer patients in Singapore. METHODS: In this descriptive correlational study, parental caregivers were recruited via convenience sampling during their child's inpatient admission or outpatient appointment. They were asked to complete a self-administered demographic survey and the Distress Thermometer for Parents (DT-P) tool. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and correlation analyses were performed. RESULTS: The mean DT-P score was 5.07 (standard deviation = 2.78), out of a maximum of 10. Distress was reported among 67.9% (n = 55) of caregivers. The cognitive domain of caregiving problems on the DT-P was found to correlate with distress. Parents most frequently reported cognitive problems (n = 21, 25.9%) and, least often, social problems (n = 6, 7.4%). Practical (P = 0.040), emotional (P = 0.001), physical (P = 0.026), and cognitive problems (P = 0.001) of caregiving were statistically significantly associated with distress. CONCLUSIONS: Notable levels of distress and proportions of distressed parents highlighted the heavy burden of caregiving. This may also be attributed to the differences in caregiving challenges. The psychological effects of parental caregiving highlight the need for supportive measures for pediatric cancer caregivers.