The effects of light therapy on depressed elders

Int J Geriat Psychiatry

2006

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and risk factors for depressive symptoms among veterans home elders in Eastern Taiwan

Ku¹,

Liu

Int J Geriat Psychiatry

2006

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“…Those with depressive symptoms should be referred to physicians for further assessment and treatment. Light therapy was found to decrease depressive symptoms in institutionalized elderly in Taiwan (Tsai et al, 2004). Moreover, antidepressants have a proven efficacy in treating depression in the elderly (Lebowitz et al, 1997).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and risk factors for depressive symptoms among community-dwelling elders in Taiwan

Yeh

Int. J. Geriat. Psychiatry

2005

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100

110

Introduction: Aging may best be defined as the survival of growing number of people who have completed the traditional adult roles of making a living and child bearing. Depression is common in the older adults and is a major public health problem. Reminiscence therapy considered an alternative intervention for treating depression in older adults. Objectives: To assess the level of depression among older adults in selected old age home. To determine the effectiveness of reminiscence therapy on the level of depression among older adults. To associate the level of depression among older adults with their selected demographic variables. Methodology: The research approach was used Experimental approach and design was one group Pre-test and Post-test design. Purposive sampling technique was used. Results: The findings of the study revealed that among 30 older adults in pre-test level of depression among older adults, 3(10%) had mild depression, 19(63.3%) had moderate depression and 8(26.7%) had severe depression. The post-test revealed that majority 19(63.3%) expressed mild depression, 9(30%) expressed moderate depression and 2(6.7%) expressed severe depression. It represents that reminiscence therapy sessions reduced the level of depression of older adults. Conclusion: The effectiveness of reminiscence therapy on depression among older adults using paired "t" test shows 7.4 significance at the level of p <0.01. Finally, it was concluded that reminiscence therapy sessions are effective in reducing the level of depression among older adults.

“…As a treatment for depression in older nondemented hospitalized adults, Tsai, Wong, Juang, and Tsai (2004) recently explored light therapy and demonstrated a significant reduction in depressive symptoms. Elders with dementia frequently exhibit disturbed rest-activity cycles that are associated with abnormal nighttime and daytime behaviors.…”

Section: Neuropsychiatric Behaviors and Light Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

Light Treatment for Neuropsychiatric Behaviors in Alzheimer's Disease

et al. 2007

Neuropsychiatric behaviors are common in people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and make both professional and lay caregiving difficult. Light therapy has been somewhat successful in ameliorating disruptive behaviors. This randomized trial tested the effects of morning or afternoon bright light exposure compared with usual indoor light on the presence, frequency, severity, and occupational disruptiveness of neuropsychiatric behaviors in nursing home residents with AD. Light was administered for 1 hr daily (Monday-Friday) for 10 weeks. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home was used to assess behavior at baseline and end of the intervention. Analyses revealed statistically significant differences between groups on agitation/aggression, depression/dysphoria, aberrant motor behavior, and appetite/eating disorders. The magnitude of change was small and may not represent clinically significant findings. Agitation/aggression and nighttime behaviors commonly occurred and were highly correlated with occupational disruptiveness. Interventions that decrease the presence and/or severity of neuropsychiatric behaviors have the potential to significantly decrease caregiver burden.