Sanne M A Lamers1, Ernst T Bohlmeijer2, Jojanneke Korte2, Gerben J Westerhof2. 1. Department of Psychology, Health, and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands. s.m.a.lamers@utwente.nl. 2. Department of Psychology, Health, and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The study used a randomized controlled trial to investigate the short-term and long-term effects of life-review as online-guided self-help in adults (40+) with moderate depressive symptomatology. We evaluated ego-integrity and rumination as mediators and assessed whether the effects of the intervention did not differ across middle-aged and older adults. METHOD: Effects of life-review (n = 58) were compared with a waiting list group (n = 58) and an expressive writing intervention (n = 58) on depressive symptoms (primary outcome), anxiety, and well-being (secondary outcomes). Mediator and moderator analyses were also applied. RESULTS: Compared with the waiting list, life-review reduced depressive symptoms (d = 0.35) and enhanced emotional (d = 0.16) and psychological well-being (d = 0.27). Life-review was not more effective than expressive writing. The effects on depressive symptoms were partly related with increases in ego-integrity and decreases in rumination. The intervention is applicable for middle-aged and older adults. CONCLUSION: Life-review is effective as self-help for middle-aged and older adults with moderate depressive symptomatology compared with a waiting list group. Future research should investigate whether stimulating ego-integrity and reducing rumination enhance the effects of the intervention.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: The study used a randomized controlled trial to investigate the short-term and long-term effects of life-review as online-guided self-help in adults (40+) with moderate depressive symptomatology. We evaluated ego-integrity and rumination as mediators and assessed whether the effects of the intervention did not differ across middle-aged and older adults. METHOD: Effects of life-review (n = 58) were compared with a waiting list group (n = 58) and an expressive writing intervention (n = 58) on depressive symptoms (primary outcome), anxiety, and well-being (secondary outcomes). Mediator and moderator analyses were also applied. RESULTS: Compared with the waiting list, life-review reduced depressive symptoms (d = 0.35) and enhanced emotional (d = 0.16) and psychological well-being (d = 0.27). Life-review was not more effective than expressive writing. The effects on depressive symptoms were partly related with increases in ego-integrity and decreases in rumination. The intervention is applicable for middle-aged and older adults. CONCLUSION: Life-review is effective as self-help for middle-aged and older adults with moderate depressive symptomatology compared with a waiting list group. Future research should investigate whether stimulating ego-integrity and reducing rumination enhance the effects of the intervention.
Authors: Wouter A C Smink; Jean-Paul Fox; Erik Tjong Kim Sang; Anneke M Sools; Gerben J Westerhof; Bernard P Veldkamp Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2019-05-29
Authors: Wouter Smink; Anneke M Sools; Janneke M van der Zwaan; Sytske Wiegersma; Bernard P Veldkamp; Gerben J Westerhof Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-12-05 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Gitta Kleijn; Birgit I Lissenberg-Witte; Ernst T Bohlmeijer; Bas Steunenberg; Kitty Knipscheer-Kuijpers; Vincent Willemsen; Annemarie Becker; Egbert F Smit; Corien M Eeltink; Anna M E Bruynzeel; Maurice van der Vorst; Remco de Bree; C René Leemans; Michiel W M van den Brekel; Pim Cuijpers; Irma M Verdonck-de Leeuw Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-05-15 Impact factor: 3.240