The impact of a semi-structured reminiscence programme on ego integrity and on depressive disorder in elderly portuguese

Resumen

This study analysed the impact of a circumscribed, semi-structured individual programmeof reminiscence on ego integrity and depressive disorder in older Portuguese adults. Aquasi-experimental design was produced for this study, in which 90 individuals over 65years old participated, diagnosed with depression disorder, deprived of anti-depressivemedical treatment and showing no signs of dementia. Each individual was assigned to oneof the following three groups: (1) experimental group (reminiscence therapy sessions); (2)control group or (3) control-placebo group (weekly sessions of relaxation). Pretest andposttest evaluations of depression disorder were conducted according to the CES-D Scale(adapted by Gonçalves and Fagulha, 2000-2001, from the original by Radloff, 1977) andthe ego integrity (adapted by Silva, Novo y Peralta, 1997, from the original by Ryff eHeincke, 1983) of all individuals with the same time gap. The results indicated significantimprovements on depressive symptoms of the experimental group (t(29)=19,70; p<0,01);the average value dropped from 39,87 (DT=7,90) to 13,60 (DT=5,14), and significantimprovements on the ego integrity (t(29)= -12,62; p<0,001); the average value increasedfrom 28,60 (SD= 9,01) to 42,80 (SD=7,22). In the control group depression symptoms tendto worsen and there are no significant differences regarding ego integrity. In the control-placebo group the depressive symptoms decreased, although they were less significant thanin the experimental group, and ego integrity tends to diminish.The study also highlights thenegative associations between the depression disorder with ego integrity in the pretest(r=-0,36; p<0,01), which are enhanced in the posttest moment (r=-0,63; p<0,001). Theresults support the use of the reminiscence programme as a therapeutic tool.