Effect of a Positive Photo Appreciation Program on Depressive Mood in Older Adults: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Safer and more effective programs are required to cope with an increasing number of older people with depression. Hence, we developed the Positive Photo Appreciation (PPA) program. A three-month pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted with healthy Japanese individuals aged 65–84 years, assigned to a PPA group (n = 28) or Photo Correspondence Education (PCE) (control group) (n = 27). We used the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score as the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures, among others, were cognitive function and positive emotion. Data collected at baseline and post-intervention were analyzed using a linear mixed-effect model. Over 80% of the participants in the PPA group completed and were satisfied with the program. Compared with the PCE group, the CES-D score in the PPA group significantly improved (main effect of group: t = −4.30, p < 0.001; interaction effect of group by time: t = 4.39, p < 0.001), with an effect size of d = 1.23. Additionally, a positive significant interaction effect of group by time was found in the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (t = −2.33, p = 0.024). The PPA program might be promising for mitigating depressive mood in older adults.

Development of the Positive Photo Appreciation for Dementia program for people with mild cognitive impairment and early‐stage Alzheimer's disease: A feasibility study

“…Initially, we developed a psychosocial, expressive arts, group‐based and multiple component PPA program based on positive psychotherapy. Using a pilot randomized controlled trial, we observed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms in healthy older adults with a relatively large effect size . For the current study, under the supervision of one of the co‐authors (AO) who specializes in dementia rehabilitation at the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, we tailored this program for people with MCI or early‐stage AD as follows: (i) use a reassuring word to prevent anxiety due to environmental changes; (ii) explain the task at the beginning of every session to the participants, including camera operation; (iii) provide one‐on‐one assistance to the participants through physical, occupational or speech‐language‐hearing therapists; and (iv) support communications between the facilitator and the participants.…”

Sustained mood improvement by the positive photo appreciation program in older adults

“…The participants in the intervention group in a pilot-randomized trial included 25 community-dwelling men and women aged 65-84 years 2 Those in the control group were excluded because the PPA program was implemented for them after the post-intervention assessment.…”

“…Detailed information of the intervention study was presented elsewhere. 2 A 90-min program was conducted 12 times, once a week. The combination of three photography (30 min) and appreciation (1 h) sessions and one collage production session (production time: 1 h; viewing time: 30 min) were repeated for three terms.…”

“…The combination of three photography (30 min) and appreciation (1 h) sessions and one collage production session (production time: 1 h; viewing time: 30 min) were repeated for three terms. 2 In the photography session, participants took photographs based on their preferences; these were then projected and everyone selected their favorite photos for appreciation. During the collage production, the participants created collages using their smiling photos and magazine clippings, provided titles, and presented them to the group.…”

“…9,10 Furthermore, the photography and positive expression employed in this study may improve this effect. Satisfaction with the program was high-participants found the activities fun, 2 and some even proactively and voluntarily organized similar group-based activities after the program; such actions may explain its sustained effects.…”