The Process and Outcome of Life Review Psychotherapy With Depressed Homebound Older Adults

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the process and outcomes of life review therapy provided by an advanced practice geropsychiatric nurse to older adults discharged from psychiatric hospitals to home health care. Eighty older adults over 65 years of age with a primary diagnosis of depression were treated at home for life review psychotherapy sessions (M = 13.24, SD = 8.65). Content analysis methods, both latent and manifest, were used to analyze the data and identify themes. Themes were classified as empowerment (connection, coping, efficacy, hope, and trust) or disempowerment (denial, despair, helpless, isolation, loneliness, and loss). Findings showed that, as a result of the life review therapy, there was a significant decrease (p < .0001) in total disempowerment themes (M1 = 13.07; M2 = 9.14).